Since its founding, HCP has earned an international reputation for exhibitions of current and relevant work that have helped to define the state of photography. HCP's exhibitions have included works by some of the most important photographers of the 20th and 21st centuries, as well as the work of many emerging photographers who are now established professionals.
Summer 2026
Application Period: January 19 - March 15, 2026
The Houston Center for Photography seeks creative individuals interested in photography and the visual arts for internship opportunities. Offered year-round internships at HCP provide a platform for undergraduate and graduate students to gain practical, hands-on experience in our community engagement, exhibitions, education, and operations departments. HCP’s mission is to promote inquiry about photography and related media through education, exhibitions, publications, fellowship programs, and community collaboration. Our hope is to match each intern with duties that match their interests and learning goals.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR AN INTERNSHIP AT HCP
- Availability to commit a minimum of 8 hours per week for a 3-month term; a commitment of 15-20 hours per week is preferred
- A passion for photography, visual arts, and/or contemporary culture is essential
- Previous work experience is a plus, but not required, provided the candidate meets strongly all other qualifications
- Pursuing studies in college at the undergraduate or graduate levels, or a recent graduate
- Strong communication (written and verbal) and interpersonal skills, with ability to organize, and manage competing priorities
- Maintain a friendly and approachable style with an emphasis on ensuring positive visitor experiences
- Dedicated and reliable, with a proactive attitude and the ability to collaborate effectively as part of a team
- Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment; with require minimal supervision
- Working knowledge of the Google Suite (or Microsoft Suite) is required, with familiarity of the other being a plus
- Knowledge and experience with Adobe Suite (Lightroom, Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere) is a strong plus
- Experience with website platforms like WordPress and Squarespace is highly desirable
- A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation for occasional errands are preferred, but not required
INTERNSHIP SCHEDULE
The internship term is 3 months and requires a firm commitment of a minimum of 8 hours per week. Candidates committing at least 15 hours per week will be prioritized during the selection process. While scheduling is flexible during standard business hours (M–F, 10 am–6 pm), candidates are also asked to be available for one or more special HCP events, which are held evenings and weekends.
- Summer Internships take place June–August. The deadline for applying is March 15th
- Fall Internships take place September–December. The deadline for applying is July 15th
- Spring Internships take place January–May. The deadline for applying is November 15th
BENEFITS
HCP internships offer valuable benefits to support your artistic and professional growth.
- A $300 honorarium upon completion of their internship
- A complimentary one-year HCP membership
- Awarded up to $1,000 in scholarships to take two HCP education courses and or workshops within one year
- Free access to HCP’s Digital Lab and/or Lighting Studio
- A personalized 2-hour “Path to Success” consultation
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
The application must contain a resume, a cover letter, and three references. If you are applying for the Marketing Intern position, there is an option to submit sample work.
In 2024 HCP dedicated its third gallery space to Houston and its metro area photographers. We welcome your submissions for exhibition consideration. This rolling call for entry opens in September and stays open until the end of August. Artists must be HCP members to apply. Each year we will consider submissions on a rolling basis for one of our eight solo exhibition slots. Work is considered as it comes in and artists will be provided notification at the end of subsequent month if their work has been accepted for exhibition. Houston based artists may apply more than once per year with new work. There are no themes or limitations to the type of work we will consider as long as the work falls within the discipline of photography.
Houston Center for Photography’s mission is to increase society’s understanding and appreciation of photography and its evolving role in contemporary culture. HCP Education offers over 150 courses, workshops, and masterclasses on an annual basis.
Thanks to the generosity of both our donors and Platinum/Gold Sponsorship Members, HCP established a new scholarship program supporting the professional development of photographers in Houston and its metro area. We welcome submissions from HCP members and non-members alike for full scholarships to attend courses and masterclasses offered by HCP. Approved applicants are eligible to receive one scholarship per year.
Eligibility
Scholarship applications will be open year round to adults (over the age of 18) of any skill level living within a radius of 100 miles from Houston’s city center. HCP membership is not required for scholarship application. Our scholarships are designed to support all members of the community and do not require any sort of educational prerequisite or minimum qualification for consideration (students in photography programs are, however, welcome to apply).
Schedule
Scholarship applications are received on a rolling basis throughout the year. New applications are evaluated as they come in and applicants will be notified at the end of the subsequent month if their application has been accepted. Accepted applicants remain candidates to receive a scholarship for a period of one year. Scholarship recipients may apply for another scholarship only one year after their original application.
Evaluation Process
Application evaluation is a holistic process that takes into account each applicant's financial need, the potential impact receiving a scholarship will make for the applicant, and the merit of their portfolio and statements. New scholarships will be offered on a rolling basis as they are made available. Candidates will be offered specific scholarships taking based on their interests, photographic work, and personal background.
Accepting Scholarships
Each approved applicant is eligible to receive only one scholarship per year. Recipients accept offered scholarships by returning a signed copy of their scholarship notification and registering for the relevant class. Scholarships that are not accepted as described will be offered to other candidates instead. Candidates who cannot accept an offered scholarship may be considered for other scholarships while their application remains eligible.
Recipients’ Responsibilities
Scholarship recipients are expected to attend classes and complete all assignments. Students are responsible for making it to in-person classes. Recipients who fail to attend 70% of classes will not be eligible to apply for additional scholarships. HCP submits an IRS form 1099 to recipients of prizes and awards as required by the Internal Revenue Service. Please consult with a tax professional for information regarding your tax obligation.
Evaluation Committee
Applications are evaluated by multiple staff members at HCP. The evaluating team changes every month to provide equitable opportunities to all applicants.
Houston Center for Photography’s mission is to increase society’s understanding and appreciation of photography and its evolving role in contemporary culture. HCP Education offers over 180 courses, workshops, and masterclasses on an annual basis, including a variety of Teen Class during the Summer.
Thanks to the generosity of both our donors and Platinum/Gold Sponsorship Members, HCP is able to offer scholarships in support of the professional development of photographers in Houston and its metro area.
Eligibility
Scholarship applications are open year round to teens (between the ages of 13 and 18) of any skill level living within a radius of 100 miles from Houston’s city center. HCP membership is not required for scholarship application. Our scholarships are designed to support all members of the community and do not require any sort of educational prerequisite or minimum qualification for consideration.
Schedule
Scholarship applications are received on a rolling basis throughout the year. New applications are evaluated as they come in. Applicants will be notified by the the end May if their application has been accepted. Scholarship recipients may apply for another scholarship only in the following year.
Evaluation Process
Application evaluation is a holistic process that takes into account each applicant's financial need, the potential impact receiving a scholarship will make for the applicant, and the merit of their portfolio and statements.
Accepting Scholarships
Recipients accept offered scholarships by returning a signed copy of their scholarship notification and registering for the relevant class. Scholarships that are not accepted as described will be offered to other candidates instead.
Recipients’ Responsibilities
Scholarship recipients are expected to attend classes and complete all assignments. Parents and students are responsible for transportation to/from HCP. Recipients who fail to attend 70% of classes will not be eligible to apply for additional scholarships. HCP submits an IRS form 1099 to recipients of prizes and awards as required by the Internal Revenue Service. Parents should consult with a tax professional for information regarding their tax obligations.
CALL FOR ENTRIES OPENS: March 20th, 2026
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: Sunday, April 19th, 2026 at 11:59pm CDT
The Center Annual is Houston Center for Photography’s yearly group exhibition that seeks to highlight and provide insight into current themes, technologies, and practices in photography. The show features a diverse array of works from members of our global photography community and is selected by a leading curator, editor, or artist. This annual exhibition opens our galleries to photographers from anywhere in the world, whether emerging, mid-career, or established, and as such, aims to provide viewers with critical insight into our current moment—both within the field of photography and within society at large. Of those selected, two artists are chosen to receive an HCP Juried Membership Honoraria of $500 each.*
Entrants will be required to be current members of HCP. For those that are already members, there is no additional fee.
*HCP Board members, Friends & Founders Circle, and staff are eligible to apply; however, they are ineligible to receive the HCP Juried Membership Honoraria award of $500, purchase awards, or any other further recognition with or without an accompanying cash award.
ENTRY FEE: FREE MEMBERSHIP FEE: Starting at $35 TOTAL COSTS: $35+
About the Juror:
Asha Iman Veal is a curator for globally collaborative exhibitions of contemporary art, focused on conceptual photography and moving-image, cross-diasporic themes, and intercultural dialogues through methodologies of art education. Veal is a professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She lives and works between Paris, France and Chicago, Illinois.
She’s visited as an invited lecturer at institutions including GRAIN Projects UK, Humanity In Action – Netherlands, Istituto Italiano Cultura Chicago, Pakhuis de Zwijger Amsterdam Netherlands, San Diego State University, Stockholm University Department of Culture and Aesthetics, and more. Veal regularly serves as a guest critic and jury reviewer for awards and residencies, including the East African Photography Awards, Terra Foundation/American Academy in Rome, Visual Studies Workshop NY, University of Chicago Arts + Public Life, and more. She’s a frequent invited portfolio reviewer and crit panelist for organizations including the FORMAT International Photography Festival UK, Rencontres d'Arles France, FotoFest Houston, University of Chicago DOVA, RISDI, Chicago Artist Coalition, and others. She contributed to the recent texts: Jess T. Dugan & Charlotte Cotton: Love Pictures (2026 Radius Books), Diasporas are the Landscape (2025 Visual Studies Workshop), Here, There: New Perspectives on the Collection (2025 Illinois State Museum).
Veal is a board member of Filter Photo in Chicago.
(BA New York University, Gallatin School of Individualized Study. MFA The New School. MA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. PhD The University of London Institute in Paris, in process)
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Call For Entry Guidelines
STEP 1. Verify your HCP Membership
Find your HCP Membership ID number, which should have been sent to you shortly after signing up as a member. If you are a member but do not know your membership number or cannot find it, please contact us at (713) 529-4755 or info@hcponline.org.
You must be an HCP member to complete your submission. Not a member? Join us today by clicking here: https://hcponline.org/join You may list your membership order number in lieu of your membership ID.
HCP Memberships are non-refundable.
STEP 2. Prepare your images and all related texts
Carefully edit a group of no more than 5 images and/or videos that describe your current photographic work. For videos, your files must be either QuickTime (.mov) or MPEG-4 (.mp4) filetypes. For images, please use the following specifications:
- JPEG (.jpg) or PNG (.png) filetype for images
- 72 DPI
- 2000 pixels on the LONGEST side
- Adobe RGB (1998) Color Profile
For each image, you will need to fill out the following information:
- Title
- Year
- Medium
- Size (inches)
- Retail Value or Not for Sale
You will also need to have the following information available for upload:
- Artist Statement
- Artist Bio
- CV or Artist Resume (PDF or Word Doc)
- Artist Website (if applicable)
STEP 3. Click "Submit"!
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NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTANCE: Applicants will be notified of the jurying results by end of day May 6th, 2026. Please note: HCP retains the right to reject any selected work that differs from the work submitted.
LIABILITY & AGREEMENT: Works will be insured while on the premises of HCP. However, HCP cannot be responsible for damage or loss during transit. HCP retains the right to display and reproduce work accepted for this exhibition for publicity and promotional purposes.
- HCP will pay for only one leg of the shipping of Exhibitors' artwork. Do NOT ship work with packaging peanuts. - ARTWORK PRESENTATION: Upon your acceptance, the work to be exhibited must be delivered ready-to-hang in either a simple white, black, or natural wood frame; matting is optional, and frames that do not meet this criteria should be pre-approved by the Exhibitions and Programs Coordinator in advance. In the case that a pedestal or specific hardware is needed for presentation, you must inform the Exhibitions and Programs Coordinator of what will be necessary for the installation of your work. Artists exhibiting slide or video projection, installation or sculptural works beyond a two-dimensional format are expected to provide the hardware and equipment necessary to exhibit the work as it is intended to be shown. HCP does not provide slide or video projectors. HCP does have a few small-to-medium sized TV monitors and media players for displaying video work.
- Your entry constitutes understanding and agreement with the conditions outlined in this prospectus.
- HCP Memberships are non refundable
DEADLINES/CALENDAR:
March 20th, 2026 – Center Annual Call for entries begins.
April 19th, 2026 – Center Annual Call for entries final deadline extended.
May 6th, 2026 – HCP notifies applicants.
May 13th, 2026 – High-res images & additional requested information due.
May 25th, 2026 – Artwork due at HCP.
June 4th, 2026 – 6:00pm-8:00pm; Opening reception
Exhibition On View: June 4th - August 16th, 2026
FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR SUBMISSION PLEASE CONTACT: Areli Navarro Magallón, Exhibitions and Programs Coordinator 713-529-4755 or areli.magallon@hcponline.org
TO VERIFY MEMBERSHIP PLEASE CONTACT: 713-529-4755 info@hcponline.org