The William and Winifred Bowness Photography Prize is administered by the Museum of Australian Photography (MAPh) on behalf of the Trustees of the MAPh Foundation.
Is there an age limit?
No, the only restriction is that entrants must be Australian citizens or residents for at least 12 months.
Can artists that are collaborative or artist collectives enter?
Yes. Use only one entry form and nominate one person to be the contact person. It needs to be made clear in the artist statement that the work is collaborative and all artists’ names listed as collaborators. Additional artist CVs may be submitted in the one document. For more information please email bowness@monash.vic.gov.au or telephone 03 8544 0500.
Can I enter more than once?
Yes. Additional artworks can be added during the online entry process. Each entry payment covers submission of 3 works.
Can I enter photographs taken before April 2023?
As a general rule, no. This is a prize for recent photography and therefore we can only accept recent work. Images will be disqualified if they do not conform to the date requirements. There are instances where we can accept entries for photographs taken before April 2023. Found photography which has been subject to recent intervention is a case in point. Also, entries are accepted for photographs that were taken before April 2023 but have been conceptually and formally resolved since that date. If the work has been in progress over an extended period of time, the date of the work should reflect this (for example, 2020–24).
What is an artist statement?
Your artist statement should be a short paragraph (120 words maximum) that provides further understanding of the photograph/s submitted. This can include photographic processes used, when and where the image was taken and the intention of the image. Your artist statement can refer to a series of work or separate statements can be submitted for each work submitted. Entrants may submit statements for each entered photograph (120 words maximum for each entered work). Entrants are not required to supply an artist statement.
What is an artist curriculum vitae?
Your artist curriculum vitae (one page only) will list training, exhibition and publication histories, awards received and other pieces of biographical or professional information relevant to your work. Entrants are not required to supply a curriculum vitae.
Can images be manipulated?
Yes. All still photo-based media including analogue and digital photography will be considered.
Whilst AI can be used in the production process, it cannot be the substantial or overriding input into the creation of the work. If a work uses AI (in whole or in part) in the generation of an image, we require the artist to describe in the artist’s statement accompanying the work how it was used as well as describing the other non-AI inputs that were also used in the creation of the image. This statement will then be used to assess whether AI has been the substantial or overriding input into the creation of the work.
Do you accept 3D works?
Yes. An additional image may be included to show an installation view of an object. Please email bowness@monash.vic.gov.au or telephone 03 8544 0500 if you need to submit additional image/s for this purpose. A description and any installation instructions (for example, will your work need a plinth or shelf or can it stand alone?) should be included in the artist statement.
Do you accept moving images or video work?
No. This is a photographic prize for still images.
Do all images have to be from the same series?
No.
Does the date have to be specific?
No. We only ask for the year that the photograph was produced (2023 or 2024). If the work has been in progress over a longer period of time, the date of the work can be inclusive of two or more years (for example, 2020–24).
What is meant by the medium on the entry form?
This is a description of the materiality of the work that will be presented for exhibition if selected as a finalist. This could be a gelatin silver print, a pigment ink-jet print, a chromogenic print or a tintype, to name just a few examples. Any photographic technique considered significant to the understanding of the work (for example photogram, collage) can be described in the artist statement.
Do you accept lenticular photographs/ printing?
Yes. Please use one image to represent the photograph and use the artist statement to explain the process. If your work requires more images to illustrate it, please email bowness@monash.vic.gov.au or telephone 03 8544 0500.
What does the image size on the entry form refer to?
There are no restrictions on the size, however all entrants must specify the image size and the final framed (or sheet size if not framed) dimensions as height x width x depth (if applicable) in cm to be considered.
Can the image size be changed if selected as a finalist?
No. Please consider the size of your photograph when you enter. If your artwork is selected for exhibition, your entry must comply with the size indicated on your entry form. If an error was made during the entry period, please contact us immediately to notify us of the error.
Can work be entered that has been exhibited before or won other prizes?
Yes.
Can past winners be selected as a finalist?
Yes.
Do finalists’ works need to be framed for exhibition?
No. Finalists should present their artwork for exhibition as best they can.
Is there a preselection?
No. All judges will consider each entry.
Will the winner be chosen before the exhibition?
No. The judges will meet in the exhibition space to determine the winner and honourable mentions based on the actual artworks. If judges are unable to be physically present for a judging session, the remaining judges will correspond with the absent judge to facilitate a joint decision.
Entries close 11:59pm (AEST) Monday 17 June 2024