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Where we started

In 2015, we launched PhotoKTM as Nepal’s first international photo festival. The first edition emerged in the wake of a devastating earthquake and a deepening political and economic crisis — offering not just a glimpse of hope, but a space for collective healing.

Since then, every two years, the festival has transformed the city into a vibrant open-air gallery — platforming hundreds of photographers and visual artists to explore the political lives of images and their role in shaping our histories and futures. Each edition has taken on an important theme, inviting the Nepali public to encounter art and engage in ideas and conversations that are often inaccessible. We’ve done all of this as a tiny organization and with a very limited budget.

Where we are today

Now, in 2025, as we prepare for the 6th edition of PhotoKTM and mark our 10th anniversary, it feels more urgent than ever to protect and sustain projects like PhotoKTM.

On September 8th, a GenZ-led protest toppled the Nepali government in under 48 hours — an unprecedented moment in our turbulent history and a clear rejection of a political class and system that has failed the people.

The days and nights since have been inspiring, exhilarating, and terrifying all at once. We are still processing everything that unfolded in such a short span of time. We are still mourning the 75 people—mostly young—who were killed on those two fateful days, both by law enforcement and in the violence and arson that followed, making it one of the deadliest events in Nepal’s recent political history.

But we know the work must continue. Turning moments of protest into sustained movements requires the support of civil society — to create spaces where people can gather, speak, organize, and mobilize.

For ten years, PhotoKTM has activated public spaces across the city with people, art, and ideas. This year is no different. In keeping with this year’s theme of Global South solidarities, we offer the festival as a space to continue the urgent conversations sparked by the GenZ protests — and explore how art and culture can support that change through dialogue, memory, and action.

For the past five editions, we’ve relied on grant support to make this festival possible, and we’ve been fortunate to work with some wonderful partners over the years.

The funding crisis we face

But this year, our values are being put to the test. Several funders have withdrawn their support. Others have made their conditions clear: stay “apolitical” and avoid certain issues—both local and global—including the ongoing occupation and genocide in Palestine.

We see this as a deliberate attempt to depoliticize artists and disconnect civic and cultural institutions from their social and political contexts. Around the world, we’ve seen time and again how funding is used as an instrument of political subordination and means to preserve the status quo. Conditional funding erodes into our communities and can demobilize us.

We refuse. And we will continue to refuse.

How can we fund our work moving ahead?

But that refusal comes at a cost. We are now facing a serious funding crisis. At this moment, we feel that the most honest way to fund this festival is going to be through direct support from the people who believe in doing this work together.

We feel incredibly lucky to have a community that continues to stand with PhotoKTM — and this year, the Nepali artist community has stepped up in ways we are deeply, forever grateful for. In an extraordinary act of solidarity, 18 incredible Nepali photographers have each contributed an image of theirs to support this fundraiser. When you support PhotoKTM, you won’t just be helping us sustain the festival — you’ll also receive two or more of these stunning prints (depending on your donation amount) as a token of our thanks and a piece of the community you’re helping to keep alive. Take a peek at the gallery here. For smaller donations, you will receive access to a film work by a Nepali filmmaker.

So, we turn to you, friends, allies, comrades, to help us make PhotoKTM possible, to keep it free, uncensored, fearless and grounded in the values we share.

Every contribution, big or small, is going to add up. And, when this campaign succeeds, we will make a powerful statement together that alternatives to colonial funding, and people-led and people-funded initiatives are possible.

We look forward to seeing you at PhotoKTM soon.
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FreeMuse, an independent international non-governmental organisation advocating for freedom of artistic expression and cultural diversity based in Norway is providing the financial infrastructure to receive funds on behalf of PhotoKTM. FreeMuse will channel all funds raised directly to PhotoKTM.

For any further information, write to PhotoKTM: fundraising@photocircle.com.np