Bamako Encounters – African Biennale of Photography invites artists to reflect on such processes of becoming, multiplicities, layered and fragmented identities, vibrant understandings of heritage/patrimony, storytelling, and difference(s).

The 13th edition will be held from November 20, 2021 to January 20, 2022 in Bamako, Mali.

This call is open to artists from the African world, amateur and professional photographers and video artists, alone or in groups, without age or nationality limit.

Applications can only be made online on the internet platform of the Rencontres de Bamako. Applicants must include the completed application form, a detailed CV, a portrait of the artist, a portfolio, and samples of recent work (photography, videos, and/or digital works)

Application fee

• There is no application fee.

Application Deadline

• Applications may be submitted until Saturday, May 31, 2021, at 00:00 U.S. time.

Submission procedure

• Applications can only be made online on the internet platform of the Rencontres de Bamako (Access the application form)
• The application must include:
  • The completed application form.
  • A detailed curriculum vitae (max. 2 pages).
  • A portrait of the artist and a high-resolution ID photo.
  • A scanned copy of the current passport until 2022.
  • A note of intent presenting the series and/or the video works, in French or English, in PDF format of 5 pages maximum, containing a clear and concise description of the proposal.
  • In the case of a specific installation, please include images that allow us to visualize or imagine the proposed project.
  • Candidates’ portfolio with biography.
  • Five high-resolution images (300 dpi for 30 × 50 cm) of recent works (property of the artist), with their technical file (name of the artist, title, date of creation, medium, dimensions, value of the work and of the insurance, addresses of the places of origin and delivery).
  • And/or: A folder (zip format) containing the video files (5 max.) of a maximum volume of 2 GB, in h264 and doing between 30 and 50 FPS with a minimum resolution of 3k.

You can present several series and apply in both fields (photography/video).
Naming of the files: name_firstname_title_series.
Send your files (photos or videos) in a single zip folder. File name: Last_Name.zip.

The photographers attest and guarantee that the works presented are original creations within the meaning of the law on intellectual property and that they do not constitute the counterfeiting of protected works. They are entirely responsible for their photographic and/or videographic works presented.

Only submissions that respect these conditions will be considered.

For more information, please contact us at contact@rencontres-bamako.com (at least 5 days before the closing date of the call).

Selection

• 25 artists will be selected. The projects will be assessed on the basis of their quality and artistic relevance.
• The selection of the artists will be announced by email during the month of June 2021, and put online on our website.
• The selection committee, chaired by Bonaventure Ndikung, is composed of the curators and artistic advisors of the Biennale. Their decision will be sovereign and without appeal

Our Commitments:

• Registration to the present call for applications is free.
• The selected artists are invited during the professional days, which take place during the first week of the Biennial, during which many meetings and discussions take place.

rencontres-bamako.org