Circulation(s)

Circulation(s): Young European Photography in Motion

Circulation(s) was born in 2011 from the initiative of six women passionate about photography: Carine Dolek, Céline Gautier, Laetitia Guillemin, Marion Hislen, Olivia Marsaud, and Audrey Turpin. Together, they founded the collective Fetart, creator, organizer, and artistic director of the festival, with the ambition of giving visibility to emerging European photographers who struggle to find exhibition spaces.

From its very first edition, the festival has been held at CENTQUATRE-PARIS, a cultural institution of the City of Paris located in the 19th arrondissement. This emblematic venue for contemporary creation, a former municipal funeral service converted into a cultural space, offers 2,000 square meters of exhibition space within spectacular industrial volumes, perfectly suited for showcasing large-format photography.

A Festival Driven by Discovery, Without a Theme

One of Circulation(s)'s unique features is its lack of an annual theme. The Fetart collective, which oversees the artistic direction—partially renewed in 2026 with the arrival of Caroline Benichou, Ioana Mello, and Lucille Vivier-Calicat—selects around thirty photographic series each year from hundreds of applications, prioritizing artistic quality, originality of vision, and diversity of approaches.

The presented series cover a wide spectrum of contemporary photography: documentary, portrait, landscape, abstraction, staged photography, artistic photography, and video. This thematic freedom allows the festival to capture the intuitions, challenges, and commitments of the younger generation of European photographers.

A Guest Country Each Year

For several editions, Circulation(s) has honored a guest European country. After Ukraine and Lithuania, Ireland will be the guest country for the 2026 edition, on the eve of its presidency of the Council of the European Union. This country focus allows for the discovery of a national photographic scene in all its diversity.

A Commitment to Accessibility and Transmission

Circulation(s) stands out for its commitment to accessibility. Admission to the festival is free, in line with CENTQUATRE-PARIS's open access policy. Guided tours, photography workshops for schoolchildren and the general public, and a Fetart Academy for emerging photographers complement the program.

The festival also offers portfolio reviews with photography professionals—publishers, gallerists, curators—providing young photographers with a valuable opportunity to have their work assessed by industry experts.

European and Institutional Recognition

Recognized by the Ministry of Culture and supported by the Île-de-France Region and the City of Paris, Circulation(s) has become an essential reference on the emerging European photography scene. The festival has launched the careers of numerous talents who now have international careers, confirming the role of launchpad that Circulation(s) plays for young European photographic creation.