Nuanu Expands Its Commitment to Indonesian Photography with the Launch of FOTO Bali Award Following FOTO Bali Festival 2026

At a time when artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming how images are created, circulated and understood, FOTO Bali Festival 2026 concludes its second edition by reaffirming the importance of photography as a critical artistic practice and launching FOTO Bali Award, a new annual recognition award supporting Indonesian photographers and lens-based artists.

Running from 3 June to 12 July under the theme Afterimage, the festival presented more than 500 photographic works by over 90 artists from 24 countries, welcoming more than 25,000 visitors across exhibitions, artist talks, workshops, screenings and public programmes at Nuanu Creative City.

The announcement reflects Nuanu’s growing commitment to strengthening Indonesia’s contemporary photography and cultural landscape, extending its role beyond presenting exhibitions and festivals into creating long-term opportunities that support artists, critical dialogue and cultural exchange.

“FOTO Bali is great because it finds a way to further professional conversation while creating something exciting for the general public. We are happy for Nuanu to play its role in being the meeting point of ideas. For us, seeing interest by our guests, visitors and investors is rewarding itself but being able to talk to amazingly talented photographers and collectors and see how the industry changes is an amazing privilege. The biggest value is exchange of ideas and projections of the future – and as lens based artists are all about perspective we are grateful for the new optics and perspective they bring for Nuanu..” Lev Kroll CEO, Nuanu Creative City

Presented across 4 unique venues of Nuanu including, Labyrinth Art Gallery, Labyrinth Dome, Popper’s Triangle and Block 42, the festival transformed the Creative City into a meeting point for photographers, visual artists, curators, educators, publishers, students, cultural practitioners and audiences from Indonesia and around the world. Throughout its 40-day programme, the festival positioned photography as a catalyst for dialogue, research, learning and cultural exchange.

This year’s edition also deepened collaboration across Indonesia’s creative ecosystem through partnerships with MTN Seni Budaya, ISI Bali, and Bali Motion Club featuring visual artists from across Indonesia. These collaborations expanded opportunities for emerging practitioners while strengthening connections between local communities, educational institutions and the wider photography landscape.

As the festival concludes, FOTO Bali Festival and Nuanu Social Fund are proud to launch FOTO Bali Award, an annual recognition award celebrating outstanding Indonesian photographers and lens-based artists.

“Festivals are temporary. Artistic practice isn’t. We created the FOTO Bali Award because we wanted our support for photography to extend beyond the duration of the festival itself. If the festival gives artists visibility, the award is our way of investing in what comes next.” - Kelsang Dolma Festival Director, FOTO Bali Festival

Unlike a project grant, FOTO Bali Award recognises the strength of an artist’s body of work rather than a proposal for a future project. Applicants are assessed on the quality, originality, relevance and long-term potential of their artistic practice, without the need to submit production budgets or funding proposals.

The inaugural edition will be judged by a distinguished panel comprising I Made Bayu Pramana, photographer, researcher and lecturer at ISI Bali; Ng Swanti, Program Director of Jakarta International Photo Festival (JIPFest) and Managing Director of PannaFoto Institute; and Dr. Wiyu Wahono, one of Indonesia’s leading contemporary art collectors. Together, they bring expertise across artistic practice, academia, curatorial leadership and collecting, ensuring a rigorous and independent selection process.

For its inaugural edition, the award will recognise two recipients through two equal categories: one for work rooted in Bali, and one for work engaging with wider Indonesian realities beyond Bali. Each recipient will receive unrestricted financial support, allowing them to continue developing their practice on their own terms.

The launch of FOTO Bali Award marks another milestone in Nuanu’s long-term commitment to Indonesia’s contemporary arts ecosystem. Together with initiatives including FOTO Bali Festival, Art & Bali, Labyrinth Art Gallery and year-round cultural programming, the award reflects Nuanu’s continued investment in artists, ideas and cultural exchange.

Applications for the inaugural FOTO Bali Award are now open to Indonesian photographers and lens-based artists aged 18 and above. Full application guidelines, jury information and the submission timeline are available through FOTO Bali Festival and Nuanu Social Fund.

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