BELFAST PHOTO FESTIVAL 2017 OPEN SUBMISSION
Belfast Photo Festival is offering artist’s/photographers the opportunity to exhibit their work in the main Festival gallery alongside some of the biggest names in the field of photography, with a number also having the opportunity to be featured in the arts magazine Abridged. The winners will be eligible for a number of awards, including a cash prize of £1,000.
The theme has been left open to remove any restrictions; submissions must be photographic or lens-based but can include incorporations of other art forms with the photographic medium (i.e. performance, painting, sculpture, music, literature etc).
Individuals and collectives are welcome to apply; individuals should select and enter between two and six photographs from a particular series or body of work AND/OR submit their Photo-book for exhibition by uploading a single PDF (no image limit).
Collectives are also welcome to apply; as a collective, you can submit up to 10 photographs (a £19 submission fee will apply for every 10 images submitted)
All submitting photographers will benefit from:
- Submission review by Photo Industry Professionals
- Opportunities for Immediate Exposure
Between 20 and 40 photographers / artists will benefit from:
- awards and cash prizes (See Awards listed below)
- exhibition exposure at the Festival’s main city centre gallery
- inclusion in the special Festival issue of Abridged Magazine
- long term Festival representation and promotion
- an opportunity to participate in an Instagram Residency
- exhibition alongside some of the biggest photographic names as part of the major photographic event
- publication and inclusion in the Festival programme
- inclusion in the Festivals marketing & PR campaign, which has an estimated read of 20+ million
- international press exposure
- being seen by a substantial number of visual arts professionals and the media
- dedicated feature on the Festival website and online gallery
A number finalists will be selected to have their work produced by the Festival for exhibition outdoors
JURY
The Belfast Photo Festival has invited a panel of influential international experts in the field of photography to assist in the shortlisting and selection of artist’s alongside the Festival team. The Jury consist of:
Lucy Gallun – Assistant Curator: Museum of Modern Art, MoMA (USA)
James Estrin – Lens Co-Editor: The New York Times (USA)
Elisa Medde – Managing Editor: foam Magazine (Netherlands)
Michael Mack – Publisher: MACK Books (UK)
Emily Graham – Cultural Commissions & Partnerships Manager: Magnum Photos (UK)
Tom Seymour – Digital Editor: British Journal of Photography (UK)
Kevin WY Lee – Creative Director: Invisible Photographer Asia, IPA (Singapore)
Ciara Hickey – Curator: Belfast Exposed Photography Gallery (UK)
AWARDS
Spotlight Award – £1,000 (e.s.t $1,240 / €1,123)
Years Free RPS Membership – Free membership for one year to the prestigious Royal Photographic Society
Blow Editorial Award – Full editorial presentation in an upcoming issue of Blow photographic magazine (Lucie Award Shortlisted)
Abridged Editorial Award – Presentation in a special Festival issue of Abridged Magazine
SUBMISSIONS
This year the Open Submission will be hosted by Hiive. All submissions must be made via Hiive.co.uk. After registering on Hiive, please ensure you follow the instructions outlined carefully otherwise your submission may not be valid. Submissions cost £19
Deadline
6th March 2017
THE CURATOR SHIP 