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Art
Photography

by Dara Morgan

Your Photograph Could Be Worth 30,000 QAR

2 Sept 2025

Ismail Zaidy: 'In Touch' from his project 'The Family'. Source: tasweer.org.qa

You are reading this because you are a photographer. Or perhaps you aren't — perhaps you simply have a camera, a quick eye, and the ability to capture a moment that feels like a story without saying a word. If that is the case, you may already be closer to Tasweer 2025 than you think.

This Open Call isn't just about images; it is about opportunity. It is about winning up to 30,000 QAR (which is conveniently about 30,000 AED, for those who enjoy a tidy conversion). It is about joining a festival that places photographers and image-makers into the unfolding history of art in the region.

In short: your photograph could be next.

Any questions? We have got you.

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Haitham Imad Nuraldeen: 'Hope'. Source: tasweer.org.qa

Who is behind all this excitement?

Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar, determined to make your images louder than your inner critic. Established by Qatar Museums under the leadership of its Chairperson, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, and supported by the Social & Sport Contribution Fund (Daam), Tasweer Photo Festival Qatar is being developed as a focal point for the personal and professional creative growth of photographers and image-makers in the region. Tasweer builds on Qatar Museum’s commitment to nurture artistic talent, develop Qatar's arts economy, and support its creative industries.

When is the open call?

From 1 August to 20 September 2025 (yes, you still have a couple of weeks to overcome procrastination and impostor syndrome).

What is on offer?

Two awards, two paths: submit one striking image, or unveil a full photographic project. Choose wisely — or submit both.

  • Single image award: A chance to prove one photograph can carry the weight of a novel. Win 2,000 QAR and exhibition space if you succeed.
  • Project award: The grand option. A 30,000 QAR grant, mentorship, curatorial support, and the stage at Tasweer 2027. In other words, a big deal.
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Wafaa Samir: From the project 'Inherited'. Source: tasweer.org.qa

Who is invited to apply?

Anyone aged 18 or older who believes a lens can tell stories more persuasively than a thousand polite words.

Who were the winners of 2024?

Discover an array of talents at the Tasweer website (Single award, Project award). Can we make a choice of one single photo? Absolutely not. But here is a hint: there are self-taught photographers like Neşe Arı from Turkey, so yes — it is an opportunity for everyone.

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Neşe Arı: 'Kubra and Emine'. Source: tasweer.org.qa

So, should you apply?

Only if you enjoy opportunity, recognition, and the possibility of your work becoming the next visual reference point.

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