Field Notes from the Middle 2026

Filter Photo invites photographers making work about the Midwest to submit to Field Notes from the Middle, our inaugural juried exhibition. This call is open to photography, photographic materials, and other lens-based artwork that engages with the region.

Juror Nathaniel M. Stein, Curator of Photography at the Cincinnati Art Museum, will select five artists to each exhibit 5–7 works from a single body of work. As a survey of contemporary photography across the Midwest, the exhibition embraces a broad understanding of the medium and the many ways artists are engaging with photographic practices today.

Artists making work in the following Midwestern states are eligible to apply: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Each of the exhibiting artists will be eligible for the 2026 Filter Photo Museum Purchase Award of $2,000, with the selected work acquired by the Cincinnati Art Museum for its permanent collection.

Submission Process

Applicants pay a submission fee of $35 and provide the following materials:

• An artist statement, describing the work to be exhibited (500 words max)
• A current bio
• 15-20 sample images of artworks intended for exhibition. If possible, we also recommend including a small number of installation images.
• Save your images in JPEG format, sized at 1000 pixels on the longest side.
• Image files must be titled with the artist's last and first names and the image number. Example: Smith_Mary_1.jpg

Important Dates

• September 30th, 11:59 PM CT—Call Closes
• Mid/Late October—Accepted Artists Notified
• November 25th—Work Due to Filter Space
• December 4th—Opening Reception
• Exhibition on view through February 13th, 2027 

Purchase Award and Stipends 

One exhibiting artist will receive the $2,000 Museum Purchase Award, with the selected work acquired by the Cincinnati Art Museum for its permanent collection. All other accepted artists will receive a $250 stipend towards shipping and production costs.

Information for Accepted Artists

Accepted applicants will be notified in mid-late October. Artists are responsible for all production costs, as well as the cost of shipping their work to and from the gallery for the exhibition. All work must arrive framed and ready for exhibition unless an alternative presentation is required.

If you have any questions or need assistance with submitting your work, please email info@filterphoto.org.