Celebrating all photography forms, the Festival draws over 400,000 visits, featuring 900+ Australian and international photographers in innovative exhibitions in galleries, public outdoor spaces, cafes, and projections. It’s a hub for emerging and established talent, fostering innovation via exhibits, conversations, workshops, and collaborations. Central to the Festival are the Head On Photo Awards across three categories; the Foundation has given awards worth $1,000,000+. The Festival works with international festivals and organisations and regularly tours worldwide.

Head On Foundation also produces a comprehensive yearly public and educational program of hybrid workshops, seminars, talks, reviews and collaborative projects.

Head On Foundation believes in equal opportunity for all photo artists. Work submitted to Head On is judged solely on merit, without artists’ names or backgrounds.

Head On Foundation, established in 2008 as a not-for-profit organisation, has a mission to promote photographers’ work at all career stages, encourage visual literacy, excellence and innovation, make photography accessible to all, and raise awareness of important issues through photography.