Snapshot America 2026: A Portrait of these United States

Snapshot America: 
                       A Portrait of the United States in 2026

From Main Street to your Back Yard, the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts is looking to take a Snapshot of America in 2026.

This is a call for entries to capture, in photographs, the current landscape of [the United States of] America today. From everyday activities to the grand celebrations and the tragedies that touch us all, we are looking for pictures of your community, your friends, your neighborhood, local events, landmarks, landscapes, and the everyday activities that represent life in America today. We are looking to capture the current American Landscape in an exhibition to document these unique times we live in as a Snapshot of these United States....

What image defines present day America for you?  What gives you the strength to get up in the morning? What keeps you up at night? Pictures don't have to been taken in 2026, but should represent your current view

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Snapshot America: 
                       A Portrait of the United States in 2026

From Main Street to your Back Yard, the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts is looking to take a Snapshot of America.

This is a call for entries to capture, in photographs, the current landscape of [the United States of] America today. We are looking for pictures of your community, your friends, your neighborhood, local events, landmarks, landscapes, and just everyday activities that represent life in America today. We are looking to capture the current American landscape in an exhibition to document these unique times we live in with a Snapshot of these United States.

From everyday activities to the grand celebrations and the tragedies that touch us all, we want to see what your America looks like. What image defines present day America for you? What best represents the city or town you live in? What gives you the strength to get up in the morning? What keeps you up at night? These are some of the ideas we are looking for as we put together this time capsule of United States of America in the 2026.  

Selected works will be presented in a gallery exhibition with an expanded collection published in book form to preserve this moment in time. Submitted photographs should reflect or express your current experience….  Our goal is to create a Time Capsule, to mark this moment in time, to mark our place, and record America in 2026 for future generations. 

We are looking for those moments, ranging from the mundane to the magical that expose the landscape of America in 2026.

We are looking for your unique images of what these United States look like to you.

From the submitted work, a group of images will be presented in our galleries, and a wider selection of images (including the images in the exhibition) will be published in the book, A Snapshot of America.

The Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts, 118 N. Main St. Providence, RI

IMPORTANT TIMELINE DATES

Exhibition: Thursday, November 19th thru December 11th, 2026
Registration Deadline:  September 19th
Delivery of Accepted Work: On or before November 14th
Reception and Awards: November 19th, 2026 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Selection Process: Curation of the collection will be managed by David DeMelim, Curator and Managing Director of the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts with the assistance of a team of educators, members and curators. 

The RI Center for Photographic Arts, RICPA 118 N. Main St. Providence, RI 02903
Located in the heart of Providence, RICPA was founded to inspire creative development and provide opportunities to engage with the community through exhibitions, education, publication and mutual support. 

RICPA exists to create a diverse and supportive community for individuals interested in learning or working in the Photographic Arts. We strive to provide an environment conducive to the free exchange of ideas in an open and cooperative space. Members should share a passion for creating, appreciating, or learning about all forms of photo-based media. We work to provide a platform for artistic expression, that fosters dialogue and drives innovation in the photographic arts.

The Gallery at the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts is a member of Gallery Night Providence https://www.gallerynight.org/

Awards: 
Discount coupons for the resulting book will be available to all photographers with work included in the book.

Eligibility: Artists of all levels who are at least 18 years or older are invited to enter.

Artwork: Open to Street Photography, Snapshots, and other Straight Out of Camera forms of photography. We are looking for real and candid moments, the unvarnished view of your corner of America today. Work must be your original creation. 

All work must be exhibition ready, no saw-tooth hangers please. Work that does not follow the guidelines, or is deemed not to be a faithful representation of the image submitted, will not be exhibited.

Entry Fee:  Artists may submit up to 10 photographs. The entry fee is $25 for the first image and $15 for each subsequent image.  Current RICPA Members receive a 20% discount on the entry fee. The discount code is posted in the Call Listing on our website at https://www.riphotocenter.org. You must be login to our website for the code to be visible. All CAFE fees are non-refundable and must be paid by credit/debit card.  Payment of those fees indicates the acknowledgement of the terms and conditions of the exhibition.  Juror’s decisions are final. 

Want to become a RICPA Member? Membership brings many benefits and discounts, for more information and to find the membership level that fits you, visit our website at https://www.riphotocenter.org/membership-info/ You may become a member at entry, member benefits begin immediately and run 365 days from your start date.  

Size Limit: Maximum size 48” including the frame. Artists may have multiple pieces (diptych, triptych etc.) to make up one work.  

In-Person Delivery of Accepted Work: In-person deliveries will be accepted November 14th, noon till 5:30pm or by appointment. The RICPA Gallery is located on the 2nd Floor at 118 North Main Street Providence, RI 

Shipment of Accepted Work:  Shipped deliveries should be scheduled to arrive by November 14th. Shipped work must be accompanied by a prepaid, return label. Please make sure that you label your work on the back with your name or name on the shipping label if different. 

Print Service: Save on shipping fees and take advantage of our professional print service complete with frame rental for the duration of the exhibition. Email gallery@riphotocenter.org for more information, available for accepted entries starting at for $45 prints framed up to 16” x 20”

Return of Work: For artists who deliver their art in-person pickup will be on December 12th. Shipped art will be returned in the packaging in which it was sent using the provided prepaid return shipping label. The artist is solely responsible for any charges that may arise from inadequate packaging, or redirected shipments.

Sales & Commissions: The Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts retains a 40% commission on works sold, 20% for Supporting & Exhibiting members.

Liability - Legal Agreement & Participant’s Waiver:  Submission of work automatically waives any claim for damage or loss against RI Center for Photographic Arts, including the officers, members, and employees. RICPA will exercise all reasonable care in handling entries, but will not assume any liability for loss or damage while in RICPA’s possession or in transit. Work should be independently insured by the artist.

Usage Rights: The artist retains all copyright to the images submitted. By submitting images you are giving RICPA the right to use the images for the purpose of marketing the exhibition and for reproduction online. Artists grant the use of their image(s) as stated without further contact or compensation from RICPA. Artist’s recognition is provided with any use. Submitting artists will be added to RICPA’s email subscriber list. They may opt out using a link on each email at any time. RICPA reserves the right to adjust any deadline(s) as the result of causes beyond its immediate control.  Payment of the submission fee indicates acknowledgement of all terms and conditions.

Questions: Contact gallery@riphotocenter.org  To learn about other RICPA exhibits and programs, visit https://www.riphotocenter.org/.

Photographs should represent your experience or reflecting your view of America in 2026, to be juried individually.  Work must be your original creation.

Artists of all levels who are at least 18 years or older are invited to enter. Open to photographs that capture your America. Open to Street Photography, candid photos, photo editing should be kept to a minimum. Work must be your original creation.