2015 OPEN SUBMISSION

Belfast Photo Festival is offering artist’s/photographer’s the opportunity to exhibit their work in the main Festival gallery alongside some of the biggest names in the field, 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).

(Note: You can submit both a photo-book and photographs of the same project, but a fee will need to be paid for both. If submitting only a Photo-book and not photographs, it will be your photo-book that will be selected for presentation and not photographic prints for exhibition)

Collectives are also welcome to apply; as a collective, you can submit up to 10 photographs (a £15 submission fee will apply for every 10 images submitted)

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
• exhibition alongside some of the biggest photographic names as part of the major photographic event
• publication
• being seen by a substantial number of visual arts professionals and the media
• having their work viewed by an international panel of influential experts in the field of photography

A number of 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 consists of:

Stacey Baker – Photo Editor: The New York Times Magazine (USA)

Karen McQuaid – Curator: The Photographers Gallery (UK)

Andreas Müller-Pohle – Artist & Publisher: European Photography Magazine (Germany)

Matt Packer – Director: Centre for Contemporary Art, Derry / Londonderry (UK)

Michael Weir – Director: Belfast Photo Festival (UK)

AWARDS

IdeasTap Award – £1,000 ($1,568 / €1,260)

Blow Editorial Award – A full editorial presentation in an upcoming issue of Blow photography magazine (Lucie Award Nominee)

Abridged Editorial Award – Presentation in a special Festival issue of the arts magazine Abridged

SUBMISSIONS

This year the Open Submission will be hosted by IdeasTap. All submissions must be made via IdeasTap.com. Please ensure you follow the instructions outlined carefully otherwise your submission may not be valid. Submissions cost £15*

*The submission fee charged is in aid of the 2015 Belfast Photo Festival and directly contributes to the organisation and delivery of the Festival for the benefit of all participants. Belfast Photo Festival is a charitable non-profit organisation.

DEADLINE 6TH MARCH 2015