“Teaching is the greatest act of optimism” — Colleen Wilcox
Established in 1998, the annual Callanan Excellence in Teaching Award honors a high school, college, or postgraduate teacher’s dedication and commitment to their students and field. Educators in all areas of photographic teaching are eligible – including fine art, documentary, history, and criticism. In honor of their exemplary teaching skills and techniques the Teaching Award recipient receives $5,000 in financial support, admission to Review Santa Fe, project presentation, and a CENTER Supporting Level Membership.
Educators must be nominated by their student(s) or colleague(s) to be considered.
EDUCATORS MUST POSSESS:
// A genuine passion for teaching
// An ability to excite students to learn
// A respect for students as individuals
// An enduring artistic curiosity
RECIPIENT
Uche Okpa-Iroha – Visual Artist, Art & Culture Producer, Art Educator, Independent Curator, Mentor, & Founder/Director, The Nlele Institute Lagos | Nigeria
FROM THE JUROR STATEMENT:
“…one nominee did stand out in a variety of ways, and he is the remarkable Nigerian photographer, teacher, and arts organizer, Uche Okpa-Iroha, the Founder and Director of the Nlele Institute, and Centre for African Art in Lagos. His students and supporters are legion, and he is a beloved figure not only at the Institute but within Nigerian and African photography at large. He founded Nlele in order to make the study of photography affordable to all, and he has taught there since its founding. His own work has been shown internationally and he has arranged multiple collaborations with other photographers to address African cultural and social issues… Many congratulations to you, Uche Okpa-Iroha.” – Peter Brown, 2021 Callanan Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient
Learn more about Uche Okpa-Iroha and the Nlele Institute at the 2022 Project Presentations – details to be announced.
FROM THE NOMINATIONS:
– “He is a selfless photography instructor helping marginalized youth have access to free photography training and workshop and opportunities in Nigeria.”
– “We call him mentor because he’s a great teacher, and one who follows the development of his mentees from day one to infinity. Much of our development in visual art in Nigeria is attributed to him… He is the practicing artist who teaches his students life!”
– “Dedicated to furthering art in Nigeria”, is a phrase I’d use to describe Mr. Uche… Being highly passionate about Art and its various mediums, Mr. Uche, constantly strives to expand the minds of those around him, so they can see the infinite possibilities of art.”
– “He has over the years mentored many generations of artists through the Nlele Institute and helped them to build their careers using the institute as a stepping stone.”
PREVIOUS WINNERS
DONORS
Thanks to a generous donor in 2020, the Excellence in Teaching Award has been renamed to the Callanan Excellence in Teaching Award, after our Founder Reid Callanan, and will be supporting dedicated educators annually.
Thank you for the future support of the Callanan Excellence in Teaching Award.
