Photo by: Melissa Joaquin

Calling all California teen photographers!

We're excited to announce a NEW open call for original photographs from CA teens, ages 13 – 19, in response to the 2023-2024 @gettyunshuttered theme, A Spectrum of ...

As always, the prompt is open to your creative and artistic interpretation. Your photography could represent love, emotions, color, or light. Or you might capture California's varied landscapes, diverse communities, or defining issues that make the state distinct. A panel of arts professionals will select 25 winning works.

Visit opencall.unshuttered.org to learn more about submissions details & submit your photos today!

Submissions open through January 26, 2024.

Reconnecting with Our Surroundings, 2022, Samantha George

What are you Reconnecting with?

Getty Unshuttered partnered with Amplifier on the second annual Open Call for teen photographers, ages 13-19! We invited teens to explore a creative outlet as they reflected on and developed new ways of connecting, framed by our 2022 theme, “Reconnecting with .”

To view a gallery of all submissions visit the Amplifier site here.

Visit the online gallery to view the 20 selected photographs and corresponding Amplifier-designed posters they inspired, shown at the Getty Museum in 2022.

Reconnecting with Unshuttered

Unshuttered is many things. First and foremost, it is a photography-based initiative that provides a platform for learning, sharing, and other opportunities for teens, young people, and teachers across the country. Since its inception, Unshuttered has offered: a photography intensive program for teens, an app for submitting photographs, a nationwide contest for original photographs from young artists, lesson plan resources for high school educators, and exhibitions at The Getty and online.

Designed to inspire creativity and promote social good

Getty Unshuttered is a free photo sharing app from the Getty Museum. It’s a positive community for teens to share their passion for photography and social justice advocacy—a place to inspire each other and grow as artists.

For educators, Unshuttered provides lesson plans and digital resources designed for high school teachers to inspire their students to explore the medium of photography and its social impact.

Young man hugging family member as father looks on. 'Kingdom Come', Jeremy Davis.
Kingdom Come, 2019, Jeremy Davis

A museum made a photo sharing app?

We believe everyone is an artist and should have a place to gather, share, and learn. Other apps are not designed specifically for young artists. Unshuttered is different. It’s supportive and free. Like and follow other photographers to help them grow, too. Get inspired. Build and share your own portfolio. Build and share your own portfolio.

Images projected onto the Getty Center, 2018 Unshuttered Live Event
Unshuttered live event at the Getty Museum, Los Angeles

More art = better world

Who or what are you Reconnecting with? Snap it. Share it. Energize others to act. Let’s continue a cycle of inspiration.

We have featured hundreds of Getty Unshuttered artists at the Getty Museum over the years and we're looking to reconnect with you all in 2023! We can’t wait to see what you create.