Belfast Photo Festival 2021 Open Submission. Belfast Photo Festival bestows the artists/photographers the opportunity to exhibit their work in the main Festival gallery alongside some of the biggest names in the field of photography and have their work taken on tour to be exhibited at the 2022 Photo Schwiez (Zurich, Switzerland), with a number also having the opportunity to be featured in the arts magazines Abridged and GUP. The winners will be eligible for a number of awards, including a cash prize of £2,000 (e.s.t $2,674 / €2,208).

Theme

The theme is 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).

Who can apply?

Individuals and collectives are welcome to apply; individuals should select and enter between 1 and 15 photographs from a particular series or body of work AND/OR submit their Photo-book for exhibition by providing a link to a single PDF (stored on for example Google Drive or Dropbox)

Benefits

All submitting photographers will have their works reviewed by Photo Industry Professionals as well as it is an opportunity for Immediate Exposure. Between 20 and 40 photographers/artists will get the following benefits

• Awards and cash prizes
• Exhibition exposure at the Festival’s main city centre gallery.
• Exhibition exposure at the 2022 Photo Schweiz Festival (Switzerland).
• 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 Festival’s marketing & PR campaign, which has an estimated reach of 30+ million.
• International press exposure.
• Being seen by over 40,000 visitors, including a substantial number of visual arts professionals and the media.
• Dedicated feature on the Festival website and online gallery.
• All finalists who submitted photographs will have their work produced by the Festival for exhibition outdoors at no cost to the photographer/artist.

Awards

• Spotlight Award: £2,000 (e.s.t $2,674 / €2,208)
• Years Free RPS Membership: Free membership for one year to the prestigious Royal Photographic Society
• GUP Editorial Award: Full editorial presentation in an upcoming printed/digital issue of GUP photographic magazine
• Abridged Editorial Award: Presentation in a special Festival issue of Abridged Magazine

2021 Open Submission – Terms & Conditions