Open calls: what juries actually consider

When you apply to an open call, your project reaches professionals who encounter it for the very first time — without prior knowledge of your work, without personal context, and without the time to interpret what is not clearly stated in your materials. These are members of a professional jury, often composed of curators, artists, and representatives of institutions. They review dozens, sometimes hundreds, of applications and are tasked with selecting the most compelling ones from their point of view. Importantly, they are not always looking for a single “best project.” Sometimes they are also shaping a meaningful overall selection that works in relation to an audience and the context of the organization. So how can you support your presentation?

The first moment of contact is crucial

A juror needs to quickly understand what they are looking at and in which medium the work was created. If this is not immediately clear, their attention can easily shift elsewhere, not out of disinterest, but due to limited time.

A precise and accurate description

Sometimes project descriptions talk about something slightly different than what the work actually communicates. It’s helpful to consult someone you trust and ask whether your text truly corresponds to the visual material. Make sure you haven’t drifted away from your own argument. Jurors want to see that you know what you are talking about, and in a flood of submissions, a concise and convincing description can make a real difference.

Presentation goes beyond the open call

Even if you are not selected, it does not mean your effort is necessarily lost. A juror may remember your project as a strong work and return to it in another context, for example, for future collaborations or opportunities. This less visible aspect of selection processes also has value, which is why it is important to approach your materials with care.

A brief summary

It’s important to realize that jurors cannot spend too much time reconstructing the context of your work. They evaluate only what is in front of them: images, text, and the relationship between the two. The ability to create a clear framework that is easy to navigate is therefore essential.
How to do this in practice:

• State the medium right at the beginning (e.g. photography / video / installation)
• Describe the project in one sentence (without metaphors — those can come later)
• Make sure the text corresponds to the images (ask someone unfamiliar with the work)
• Avoid overly general statements (“I explore identity”, “I work with memory”) without specific grounding
• Keep the initial description concise and clear

The principle of an open call is not only about what you create, but how you communicate your project in a situation where it is seen for the first time, without context. If you approach your materials with care, it will show in the strength of your presentation.

Text | Markéta Kinterová