The Excellence in Multimedia Storytelling Award recognizes outstanding storytellers using lens-based media to create narrative-driven projects. The award is open, but not limited to, photography, video, new media, photojournalism, installation, and web-based works. Projects that inspire social action, document crucial issues, and amplify underrepresented voices are encouraged to apply.
From the project statement – “Working every day except Tuesdays the fisherman from the seaside towns of Prampram, Cape Coast, and Ada, Ghana, head out to sea where they fish up to 40 kilometers offshore. For generations, families of these communities have fished the Atlantic Ocean. What they catch will determine the livelihood of the community and their families. During the summer months of 2021, I photographed the story of these local communities of fisherman.”
Mary Anne Redding is a visual arts curator and writer. She currently works as the curator for the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. Redding has more than forty years’ experience working as a curator, archivist, librarian, educator, and arts administrator. She has curated hundreds of exhibitions as well as written and published numerous essays on contemporary art. Redding serves on the advisory board at Center.
General Application Guidelines
SUBMIT
• Up to 6 singular files* from a project or series; *additional files $5 each
• 325-word Project Statement
Final Submission Deadline: April 20, 2021
ELIGIBILITY
All of CENTER’s Call for Entries opportunities accept submissions from national and international photographers and lens-based artists. Work can have been made at any time and work that has been previously submitted may be re-submitted as we invite new jurors each year.
Work derived from all photographic processes is accepted, as well as mixed media that is photo-based. Only the Multimedia Award accepts video, multimedia files, and/or still images for submission. File formatting requirements for all categories listed below.
Submission of more than 6 files requires a payment of $5 for each additional file up to 20. This applies to all 3 CENTER Awards and the Multimedia Award ONLY.
CRITERIA & THE JURY PROCESS
Q: WHAT ARE THE SELECTION CRITERIA?
A: Projects, as well as all submitted text, should be examples of excellence within the discipline, both visually and conceptually.
Q: DO YOU “PRE-SCREEN”?
A: No, all work submitted is seen by the jurors only.
Q: WHAT ARE JURORS LOOKING FOR?
A: The jurors are looking for cohesive, compelling bodies of work that are ready for international recognition.
Q: WILL I RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON THE WORK?
A: Due to the number of submissions the committee is unable to provide specific feedback at this time but we will let you know if the work advances to the higher rounds of judging.
Q: MAY I SEND MY BOOK, POSTER, EXHIBITION ANNOUNCEMENT, ETC.?
A: Websites, books, posters, announcements, and other materials will not be seen by the judges or reviewed for submission.
Q: CAN WE APPLY AS A DUO OR GROUP?
A: Yes, please use one artist’s name and information on the application, and in your project statement note that it is a collaboration and includes all names. Please note that winners will receive one slot at Review Santa Fe, so the group would sit together in front of each reviewer.
APPLICATION FAQs
Q: WHEN IS THE DEADLINE?
A: March 20, 2021 for discounted entry fees and April 20, 2021 for the final submission deadline.
Q: WHERE DO I APPLY?
A: You will apply within our online submission system that is sent to you via email once your payment has been processed.
Q: WHAT ARE THE FILE REQUIREMENTS?
A: All images and files must be uploaded through our online submission system. We now accept JPG, PDF, TIFF & PNG files for all applications. Additional accepted file types for only the Multimedia Award include MP3, Mp4, and MOV. Please keep video and audio files to under 3 minutes and under 200MB. When submitting JPGs, please size at 1400 pixels on the longest side with a minimum dpi of 72. To successfully order files during upload, we suggest you rename files before uploading them as they are uploaded and organized in alpha order. Begin the filename with a lower-case alphabetical letter. Include the title in the filename after the letter and underscore [ex: a_Title.jpg, b_Title.jpg].
Q: WHY DO MY IMAGES NOT HAVE THE CORRECT COLOR OR CONTRAST AND LOOK VERY SMALL ON APPLICATION FORM?
A: Once you have uploaded your images to the application form, you are now viewing them through an internet browser that does not recognize color profiles. Your images are unaltered by this process.
Q: MAY I SUBMIT TWO OR MORE BODIES OF WORK?
A: Yes, you can submit more than one portfolio to the same category, however you must pay for an additional entry. This applies to all categories open for submission.
Q: MAY I COMBINE BLACK & WHITE AND COLOR IMAGES INTO ONE BODY OF WORK?
A: Yes, all types of image processes are allowed into each submission.
PROJECT STATEMENTS:
The first sentence of your project statement should include a short synopsis of the project. Statements are limited to 325 words and should indicate the process or medium used [ex. 8×10 black and white negative, 20×24 gelatin silver prints, or 35mm slides].
Q: WHERE DO I UPLOAD MY STATEMENT?
A: You will upload your artist statement within our online application form.
Q: TO WHICH DIMENSIONS ARE YOU REFERRING TO INCLUDE IN THE PROJECT STATEMENT?
A: The dimensions of the final product. For instance, if you print 20″x24″ Cibachrome and are submitting 8″x10″ digital prints please indicate the final version of the work.
Visit our application FAQ’s & guidelines page for more information. Have additional questions? Contact us directly.
Mary Anne Redding – Curator, Turchin Center for the Visual Arts, Appalachian State University 
