Join the “Cool Noons” photography competition and capture the intensity of urban heat in Mediterranean cities. This contest aims to raise awareness of the growing impact of climate change on urban environments and highlight the urgent need for sustainable solutions that enhance thermal comfort and improve quality of life.
The competition at a glance
Open to all, image makers, urban explorers, Mediterranean city dwellers, curious tourists, and everyday dreamers.
The goal? To reveal how people and cities are confronting the challenges of climate change. We’re looking for photographs that capture the social, political, and sensory realities of urban life under thermal stress.
The inspiration? We want to see the city differently. We invite you to go beyond the tourist gaze, with photographs that capture the city as it is truly lived, inhabited, and, at times, endured.
An online participatory workshop to support your vision
All participants who submit an image or project idea will be invited to join an online workshop designed to help you develop or refine your proposal.
Held in English, this interactive session is open to everyone — whether you’ve shared a rough concept or an initial photograph. You’ll have until 30 September to submit your final project.
The workshop will be facilitated by Kmar Douagi, a visual artist and practitioner whose work blends documentary approaches with a strong social perspective.
The 3 best photos will be awarded
• 1st prize: Round-trip travel to one of the project cities (up to a maximum of €360)
• 2nd prize: Photography equipment (up to a maximum of €200)
• 3rd prize: 2 hours of professional artistic mentorship with the Heartline collective (portfolio restructuring, support with application writing, development strategies)
A selection of 15 to 20 photos will be showcased in Euro-Mediterranean exhibitions in Athens, Budva, Coimbra, Dubrovnik, Imola, Lisbon, and Marseille in the first half of 2026.
Who can apply?
You live in or are visiting one of the project cities: Marseille, Dubrovnik, Lisbon, Imola, and Budva.
There are no age limits, from 5 to 99 years old!
Applications
• Fill out the online registration form and submit your project > https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsd_XwKXuLwJsbu9sMZ-P101Nw6VVFIcPBNC7GRKEhtwIdnA/viewform
• Find out more about the photo competition regulations > https://coolnoons.interreg-euro-med.eu/picture-competition/
• For any questions, participants can contact: coolnoons@interreg-euro-med.eu
Timeline & submission period
• 7th July to 7th August > Submit your applications and initial project ideas
• August or September > Refine your project in an online workshop led by visual artist @Kmar Douagi
• 30th September > Final project submission deadline
Discover the Cool Noons project
The Cool Noons project documents cooling actions being implemented in five Mediterranean cities, aiming to rethink tourism and urban life during the hottest hours of the day. It promotes climate adaptation, thermal comfort, and the design of public spaces.
Follow the progress of the project in the five pilot cities on social media:
IG: https://www.instagram.com/coolnoons/
