OD Photo Prize 2021 is an open call for emerging artists working within the first ten years of their practice, founded by Open Doors Gallery. For many years, OD has discovered and showcased artists working across all genres of contemporary photography. This prize is an extension of that philosophy, which looks to nurture long-term relationships with artists globally.

The nominated artists will be published in a limited-edition news-sheet by OD Books, celebrating their talent and work, alongside a group exhibition with Open Doors Gallery in London. Selected artists are also eligible for a variety of prizes chosen by our panel of influential experts in the field of photography.

What winners receive

Artists selected for OD Photo Prize 2021 will receive the following support and opportunities:

• Having their work produced for a group exhibition hosted by Open Doors Gallery in London, November, 2021

• An exhibition alongside established artists from the Open Doors Gallery roaster

• Exhibition exposure to a substantial number of visual arts professionals and the media

• Inclusion in the gallery website announcement and mailing lists

• Publication in the OD Photo Prize limited-edition news-sheet celebrating their work

• Receive a copy of the limited-edition news-sheet for personal use

• Their projects viewed and considered by our panel of leading industry experts

• Their work shared with our 90,000+ social media following

• Inclusion in an ongoing community and support network facilitated by Open Doors Gallery

In addition, the Jurors in consultation with Open Doors Gallery will award the following prizes:

Grand Prize:

• £1,500 prize

• Includes £500 cash prize supported by Open Doors Gallery

• Includes £500 print credit supported by Metro Imaging

• Includes £500 credit supported by MPB

• Highlighted feature spreads in the OD Photo Prize limited-edition news-sheet

• Mentorship through Open Doors Gallery

2 x Runners-Up:

• Highlighted feature spreads in the OD Photo Prize limited-edition news-sheet

• Mentorship through Open Doors Gallery

Metro Imaging Mentorship Award:

• Tailored mentorship programme designed to support the awarded artist through any aspect of their career development which they deem vital

• A unique opportunity to gain ongoing 1:1 advice and guidance from Professor Steven Macleod, Creative Director at Metro Imaging, to help nurture and expand their practice

Juror's Choice Award:

• Spotlight by an individual Juror in recognition of the strength of an artist's work

• A dedicated text by their respective Juror published along with a selection of their work in the OD Photo Prize limited-edition news-sheet

About Open Doors Gallery

Founded in 2017, Open Doors Gallery is a global platform for contemporary photographic artists. The gallery aims to give the world's best emerging talent an opportunity to reach new audiences, and works with a broad range of artists.

As well as representing the developing careers of several award winning photographic artists, Open Doors believes in making art accessible, affordable and collectable. We aim to surprise people by challenging what they believe photographic art to be whilst also respecting more traditional photographic methods.

Open Doors has a strong presence online (@odtakeovers & @odprintsales) choosing to showcase a wide variety of styles from within and beyond our family of represented artists. We work towards broadening people's understanding of the medium. Whilst the digital side is important, we also believe wholeheartedly in the value of seeing and experiencing artworks up close through our programme of exhibitions, art fairs and publications that we produce throughout the year.

How to Enter

• Only 6-15 images per entrant is permitted. You can only submit once

• To support an unbiased and anonymous judging process, please do not include your name or existing accolades in your project or artwork statements

• Follow the entry requirements specified below

• Complete £10 entry payment via Picter

Judging Criteria

OD Photo Prize 2021 is an open theme. We greatly encourage submission from artists working across all forms of photographic art: this includes, but is not limited to, storytelling, narrative, social documentary, construction, archival, conceptual or theoretical practices. Submissions must be photographic or lens-based but can incorporate other art forms (i.e. performance, collage, painting, sculpture, music, literature etc), and may result in unique artworks.

The final selection of artists from the open call will be made in collaboration between the Jury and Open Doors Gallery. There will be 9 selected artists participating in OD Photo Prize 2021.

Successful entrants will be notified by email in mid-October 2021 with information regarding the following steps towards publication and exhibition. A list of selected applicants and awardees will be published on Open Doors Gallery's social media channels and website. The decision on successful entrants is final.

This prize is specifically aimed at early career artists. There are no age restrictions above the age of 18, but you must be within the first ten years of your professional practice to apply. We ask all artists to consider whether this applies to them. For example, you may have officially commenced your professional practice after graduation from an undergraduate degree, or from the date of your first exhibition. We also encourage self-taught artists outside of institutional frameworks to apply.

Mariama Attah
Curator, Open Eye Gallery

Mariama Attah is a photography curator, writer and lecturer with a particular interest in overlooked visual histories, and understanding how photography and visual culture can be used to amplify underrepresented voices. Mariama is curator of Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool. She was previously Assistant Editor of Foam Magazine. Prior to this, she was Curator of Photoworks, where she was responsible for developing and curating programs and events including Brighton Photo Biennial and was also Commissioning and Managing Editor of the yearly magazine Photoworks Annual.

Brandei Estes
Head of Photographs, Sotheby’s London

Brandei Estes is the Head of Photographs at Sotheby’s London, and spent over ten years working in photography and contemporary art galleries in London and Paris before joining Sotheby’s in 2013. Brandei is regularly a judge and nominator for numerous international photography awards including the Prix Pictet, and served for five years as the Chair for the advisory committee of The Photographers’ Gallery TPG Contemporaries. Brandei also lectures throughout the year on collecting photographs and the photography market for public and private institutions, museums, galleries and fairs.

Professor Steven Macleod
Creative Director, Metro Imaging

Steve is an award winning Creative Director and artist and has been at the forefront of photographic imaging for thirty years, collaborating with a vast network of clients he has also developed several innovative photographic printing practices. He is a Director at Metro Imaging. The company is one of Europe’s leading imaging companies with a global reach offering a comprehensive solution for exhibition and collecting markets. He is a practicing artist, represented by Black Box Projects. He regularly exhibits and his works are held in both private and public institutions. He is also a commissioned artist for the Hospital Rooms Arts mental health charity. Steve is a Visiting Professor at the University of Suffolk; Trustee and Deputy Chair of QEST and E E at RGU Aberdeen. He runs an established mentorship programme and is a regular judge on international panels.

Isabella van Marle
Curator and Founder, Pictures for Purpose

Isabella van Marle (1991) is a creative consultant and curator based in Amsterdam. She is the co-founder of Pictures for Purpose, an initiative that started life in 2020 in the shape of a fundraising print by international artists. Foundation Pictures for Purpose aims to raise funds and awareness for charities through the medium of photography. Isabella has been appointed as curator of Foto Tallinn 2021 and has worked as the fair curator of Unseen. She has served on the jury and reviewed portfolios at several photography festival and awards including Sony World Photography Awards; Kyotographie, Japan; and Athens Photo Festival, Greece.

Keith Cullen
Founder and Director, Setanta Books

Setanta Books is a photography publisher and online bookseller based in London. Setanta publishes contemporary and fine art photography books with a broad range of artists from emerging artists to more established names.

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