Open Call for Picture Culture: Here & Now

By submitting an entry to the Picture Culture: Here & Now exhibition, the applicant agrees to the following terms and conditions: 

Eligibility 

• Entry is free of charge. 
• Applicants of all ages are eligible to apply. 
• Applicants must be residents of the Sunshine Coast. 
• Only one entry per applicant is permitted. 
• Sunshine Coast Council staff are not eligible to enter. 
• Entries submitted by third parties or commercial galleries on behalf of applicants will not be accepted. 
• Applicants under 18 years of age must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian. 

Submission requirements 

• All entries must be submitted online via the Horizon Festival website. 
• No changes can be made to the submission once completed. 
• Each entry must include:  
• One digital image in JPEG format (maximum file size: 2MB). 
• A short written statement (maximum 100 words) reflecting on the subject of the image and its relevance to the exhibition theme. 
• A clearly labelled file name in the format: Firstname Surname_Title of Work. 
• Images must have been captured on the Sunshine Coast within the past 12 months. 
• AI-generated images are not permitted. 
• If selected, applicants must provide a high-resolution (300dpi) version of the image suitable for enlargement. 

Exhibition and display 

• Selected works will be exhibited at the Old Ambulance Station Gallery, Nambour, from 1–30 May 2026. 
• Works not selected as finalists may be included in the exhibition as part of a rotating digital projection with the permission of the applicant. 
• All submitted works must be available for display for the full duration of the exhibition. 
• Sunshine Coast Council reserves the right to determine the most appropriate method of display and may refuse to exhibit any work deemed inappropriate (including but not limited to defamatory, obscene, indecent, harassing, threatening, abusive, or unlawful content). 

Copyright and permissions 

• The applicant warrants that the submitted work is original and does not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of any third party. 
• The applicant is responsible for obtaining consent from all identifiable individuals featured in the image, including talent releases where applicable. 
• If children are depicted in the image, parental or guardian consent must be obtained. 
• By submitting, the applicant grants Sunshine Coast Council a non-exclusive license to reproduce the work (in full or in part) for promotional, educational, and publicity purposes across all media formats for a period of two years from the exhibition opening date. 
• Finalists agree to make themselves reasonably available for promotional activities related to the exhibition. 

Selection and notification 

• Finalists will be selected by a panel appointed by Horizon Festival. All decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into. 
• Finalists will be notified prior to public announcement and published on the Horizon Festival website and social media channels. 
• Selected applicants may be asked to provide additional materials, such as an artist's biography or marketing information. 

 Legal and conduct 

• Applicants must not engage in any conduct that may compromise the integrity or fairness of the selection process. 
• The entry form does not constitute permission to access private property. Applicants must obtain appropriate permissions from landholders where applicable. 
• By submitting an entry, the applicant consents to the use of their contact information for communications related to the exhibition. 

 Liability and indemnity 

• The applicant assumes full responsibility for the content of their submission and any legal implications arising from its display or publication. 
• The applicant indemnifies and holds harmless Sunshine Coast Council, its officers, employees, agents, and sponsors from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, or expenses (including legal fees) arising out of or in connection with:  
• A breach of these terms and conditions; 
• Any infringement of third-party rights, including copyright or privacy; 
• Failure to obtain necessary permissions or consents; 
• Any unlawful or improper conduct related to the submission or participation in the exhibition. 

• Artistic merit of image (unique, relevant and compelling composition) 
• Alignment of story and image with key themes 
• Reflects aspects of cultural exchange, identity? and diversity 
• Demonstrates connection to the Sunshine Coast 

Jo-Anne Driessens 

Jo-Anne was raised in Brisbane and grew up holidaying on the Sunshine Coast. She is Guwa-Koa, Gungarri, Kuku Yalanji descendant. Having completed a photography cadetship in 1999 at the State Library of Queensland, Jo-Anne continued working as a photographer and across various arts and curatorial specialised roles, including archival and anthropological research, exhibition programs and Aboriginal Family history support. These skills have and continue to provide a holistic approach towards specialised creative projects. For Driessens the camera is an important tool for capturing the preservation of living culture in First Nations communities.

Louis Lim 

Louis Lim is an Australian-based photographer whose work explores the diversity in human conditions, specifically those that are under-represented in mainstream media. With a keen interest on light, Lim’s practice focused on non-fictional visual storytelling and conceptual photographic portraits with a collaborative methodology.  

• Receive an artist fee of $250 
• Have their work enlarged and presented at Horizon’s Picture Culture: Here & Now exhibition at The Old Ambulance Station Gallery, Nambour from 1 – 30 May 2026 
• Have their work displayed on Horizon’s website and social media channels. 

All applicants work will be projected on a rotating screen at the Old Ambulance Station, Nambour. 

• 11 November 2025: Entries open 
• 18 February 2026: Applications close 
• 25 February 2026: Finalists and all applicants notified 
• February 2026: Finalists and all applicants notified
• April 2026: work installed at Old Ambulance Gallery, Nambour 
• 1 May 2026: Horizon and Exhibition open to public 
• 2 May 2026: Official opening night of exhibition, including artist talks 
• 30 May 2026: Exhibition concludes