Open call: My East of Europe

Deadline: 20 May, 23.59

Are you from the East of Europe and currently living in the Liverpool City Region? We are looking for authentic photographs and heartfelt stories that reflect your heritage and culture. A selection of images and stories will be featured on Open Eye Gallery’s Digital Window Gallery from 28 May – 7 June 2026, as part of the Liverpool European Festival. 

We are looking for authentic, everyday photographs from your home country: moments that reflect your culture, memories, and personal history. These could be simple, heartfelt images of family life, daily routines, familiar places, favourite foods, or even something that holds sentimental meaning, like a street, tree, or landscape that you remember.

Alongside your image(s), we ask for a short piece of text, in any format (around 50-100 words). This could be a brief description, poem, memory, or a reflection.

Who can participate?

Participation is open to:

• people over 18 y/o,
• coming from the East of Europe (Czechia, Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine),
• currently based in the Liverpool City Region (Halton, Knowsley,  Liverpool,  St Helen,  Sefton, Wirral).

How to submit?

1. Submit via email. Send your submission to lilly@openeye.org.uk by 20 May, 23:59, including:

• email subject “My East of Europe”;
• Your preferred name;
• Your postcode;
• Where and when the images were taken;
• A confirmation that you have permission to use the image(s) and consent to them being displayed by filling out the form;
• 1-2 digital image files (.jpeg/.jpg, at least 2MB, not heavily edited – the work should stay mostly the same as the original. You can make small changes like trimming or resizing it in case you want to cut something out, but you should not make big colour changes or use AI to alter it);
• A title and short text for each image (50-100 words, titles clearly labelled).

2. Submit in person. If you have physical photographs, bring 1-2 of them to Open Eye Gallery on 16-17 of May (10am–4pm);
   – Your images will be scanned and returned to you;
   – You can bring your text with you or write it on the day (we will provide assistance if needed);
   – You will be asked to sign a consent form in order for us to display them on our Digital Window Gallery.

All contributors will be invited to a celebration event at Open Eye Gallery on 28 May (time TBC).

Deadline for online submissions: 20 May, 23:59pm. 

If you would like to share a longer story connected to your image, you are very welcome to! Selected pieces may also be featured on the Open Eye Gallery’s website.

If you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with Lilly (lilly@openeye.org.uk)

Example of a short story to accompany the image: 

 

A baby is coming, 1999, Lithuania, by Lilly Jankaus 

 

This photograph reflects a period of major change in our lives. It is connected to the collapse of the system and the movement that followed, when borders opened and people began to travel more freely. During this time, home felt like it had no stability. The only constant presence was a neighbourhood cat that moved between our homes in the neighbourhood. We and our neighbours shared food with it. This small routine became a way of maintaining connection with the present and consistency in the uncertain times of change.