Submission Guidelines
In India, and especially in Bihar, archives are often imagined as quiet, dusty spaces filled with official records. They feel distant, formal, and meant only for experts. We believe that an archive can be alive. It can hold not just documents, but memories, stories, feelings and moments. It can be made by people, for people. We are building an open and inclusive digital archive of images celebrating everyday life - of people you love, places you return to, rituals you grew up with, journeys you remember, and moments you don’t want to forget.
Terms of Contribution
What You Can Submit
Contributions that explore the memories and legacies of people, places and communities associated with Bihar. Your submission can include images from anywhere in the world, provided the story is connected to the region, and can bring the personal/regional into conversation with the larger world.
Word count for the text can range from 100 to 1000.
Images should be taken before the year 2000 and be at least 300 dpi in resolution.
Multiple images are welcome, provided the collection has a cohesive theme and integrity.
You may experiment with audio-visual formats too.
Captions & Languages
Contributors are encouraged to share captions or short contextual texts. We can assist in developing captions or narratives if required (free of cost).
Given the region's multilingual nature, we encourage texts in languages other than English. Submissions in Hindi, Bhojpuri, Maithili and other languages are welcome.
Rights, Credit & Use
Please ensure that you are the rightful guardian/owner of these images.
No monetary compensation will be provided for publication.
Copyright shall remain shared between the contributor and the Bihar Visual Archive.
Credit will be given as: Contributor Name/Bihar Visual Archive.
Images may be used for research, education, publications, exhibitions, and public outreach across print and digital media.
How to Submit
Email us at biharvisualarchive@gmail.com with the subject line: Bihar Visual Archive - Submission (2026).
Commission us for Digitisation Services
Do you have a personal collection of photographs, letters, objects, or documents? Are you affiliated with an institution and looking to document, catalogue, digitise, or preserve materials related to your community and organisation? Our dedicated team, with expertise in collections' management, can assist you in organising your personal or institutional archive and recommend the most effective strategies for long-term preservation and care. Whether your collection is large or small, we understand its historical and emotional value—and we’re here to help you safeguard it for the future. For any queries, please write to us at biharvisualarchive@gmail.com
We handle professional collection and digitisation at no cost.
All original materials will be returned safely after digitisation according to a mutually agreed timeline.
Contributors will receive high-resolution digital copies.
Bihar Visual Archive is an initiative of Ajoriya Foundation, a non-profit organisation that works at the intersection of heritage, art, education, archives, and community enterprise through research, documentation, capacity building and creative initiatives.