SITHOA – Shot in the Heart of Australia 2026

Street photography exhibition

Running since 2012, SITHOA has grown from its origins as Shot in the Heart of Melbourne into a nationally focused exhibition. AASPi is proud to coordinate the 14th SITHOA exhibition in 2026.

Important Dates

  • Hero Images Submissions Close: 12th April 2026

  • Submissions Close: 3rd May 2026

  • Curation Results Advised: 16th May 2026 

  • Exhibition Fees Dues:  24th May 2026

  • Opening Night: 5th June 2026 6:30pm–8:00pm

  • Exhibition Dates: 6th June to 16th June 2026 (Saturday to Tuesday 11am-4pm) 

Location: Kindred Gallery, 454 Docklands Drive (Cnr Docklands Drive and Pearl River Road), Docklands VIC 3008

Apply to enter

Submissions are now open!

Application Form

About SITHOA

SITHOA (Shot in the Heart of Australia) is a street photography and photojournalism exhibition celebrating candid, fleeting moments of everyday life across Australia.

The exhibition features work from a diverse group of passionate photographers capturing raw, unfiltered scenes of people, places and street life.

Amid the rise of staged and heavily edited imagery, this exhibition honours the authenticity of traditional street photography – those spontaneous, unrepeatable moments that define the genre.

Street photography itself is subjective, but at its core, it documents real life as it happens, often without intervention – whether through people, objects, light, or shadow.

‘I love the people I photograph. I mean, they’re my friends. I’ve never met most of them or I don’t know them at all, yet through my images I live with them.’ – Bruce Gilden

Guide to curation for SITHOA

Submitted images are reviewed by a curation team who consider the following when evaluating an image:

Style – street photography, documentary or urban poetry style.

Location – must be shot in Australia; traditionally limited to urban, town or suburbs.

Urban – Traditionally limited to urban, town or suburb; submissions reflecting a personal sense of ‘Australia’ may also be considered.

Candid – photographs should be unstaged, with subjects largely unaware of the camera.

Dignity – images must respect their subjects; work that demeans, exploits or ridicules (such as depictions of vulnerable individuals) will not be accepted.

Natural – black and white or natural colour only; editing should be minimal (e.g. cropping, basic adjustments); heavy manipulation such as HDR, selective colour, double exposure or distortion is likely not to be accepted.

Original – submissions must be your own work; images of other artists’ work, such as street performers, may not be accepted.

Full curation criteria are outlined in the AASPi exhibition terms and conditions, and if any image is rejected by the curation committee, you will be given the opportunity to resubmit.

Explore past SITHOA exhibitions

Explore the archive of SITHOA exhibitions.