About

Open Eye Gallery and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announce a call for entries to Liverpool City Region Photo Awards 2023! The competition is open to anyone living in the city region. Free online submission starts 10 November 2022 and closes 15 January 2023. Winners’ works will be a part of the Liverpool City Region Photo Awards 2023 exhibition.

Liverpool City Region is a place for photographers - our varied landscapes and vibrant communities have led to images that have inspired visitors and locals alike. Historically, the city region has nurtured more than its fair share of internationally significant photographers, something that continues today - it’s the reason Open Eye Gallery is based here.

The photography world is now shining a spotlight on the city region as we host the Sony World Photography Award Winners 2022 . From the 11th November - 22 December Open Eye Gallery will be expecting record visitor numbers. Then in January we are proud to host a solo exhibition of the photographer that was the overall winner of the Sony World Photography Award during Lockdown in 2021, selected from entries from 72 countries - the city region’s own - Craig Easton.

Over the last few years, more than ever before, people have shared their lives through photography on social media. We all know the power of a photograph: to bring us nearer to things we miss (or might have missed), to communicate beyond language, and connect instantly. Now Open Eye Gallery and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority are supporting the awards to celebrate the culture, creativity and vibrancy across our city region — we want to make some noise about the talent living right here.

What winners receive

• Showing as part of Liverpool City Region Photo Awards 2023 exhibition across multiple venues
• £1,600 in cash prizes
• Stay and breakfast at INNSiDE x2
• Free memberships at dot-art Darkroom
• Darkroom materials from Harman Technology

dot-art also offer free half-day dark room taster sessions. A taster session is an introduction into the processes of creating prints from negatives and provides an opportunity to get to know the equipment and language: email gallery@dot-art.com to apply for a free place. The dot-art team will also be leading weekly Darkroom tours throughout the competition live dates for those interested in joining the Darkroom or a Taster Session. Email gallery@dot-art.com for available dates.

8 CATEGORIES + 3 SUB-CATEGORIES

How do I submit?

Everyone living in the Liverpool City region (including Knowsley) can submit 3-5 images in one chosen category. The images don’t have to be new: you can use your archives! There are 8 categories, and you can read the description of each category here. To submit, create a profile here on Picter: you will be then guided through the submission process with all the technical requirements. In the description of the project be sure to mention whether your image was made on mobile device or on film: it will enter you in Mobile or Analogue subcategory with a chance of winning additional prizes. You can also enter the Youth subcategory if you are younger than 16.

The images can be taken anywhere at any time but it is important that you are living in the Liverpool City Region or Knowsley.

Subcategories

Mobile

The best camera is the one you have to hand. People are recording their day-to-day online and even completing whole fashion shoots with their phone. There's a real talent to working with the limitations of mobile phones / tablets and we want to share what is capable. Make sure to let us know in the project description that your image is made with a mobile / tablet device so that your work can be entered into this subcategory.

• The categories 'Mobile', 'Youth (U16s)' and 'Analogue' are an extension of your submission to one other category, there will be an award for the each category and an award for both Mobile and Youth (U16s) categories.

Youth (U16s)

We want to see work from tomorrow's photographers today. Make sure to let us know in the project description if you are under 16 so that your work can be entered into this subcategory.

• The categories 'Mobile', 'Youth (U16s)' and 'Analogue' are an extension of your submission to one other category, there will be an award for the each category and an additional award for Mobile, Youth (U16s) and Analogue categories.

Analogue

Celebrating celluloid and those taking the time to make slower images. Make sure to let us know in the project description if your work is taken using more traditional means so that your work can be entered into this subcategory.

• The categories 'Mobile', 'Youth (U16s)' and 'Analogue' are an extension of your submission to one other category, there will be an award for each category and an additional award for Mobile, Youth (U16s) and Analogue categories.

About Open Eye Gallery

We’re more than a gallery
We’re actively rethinking what a gallery can be. We produce exhibitions, long-term collaborative projects, publications, festivals, and university courses — locally and worldwide. We welcome over 85,000 visitors to our gallery every year, over 200,000 to projects in other venues, and many more to our online spaces. We proactively take risks to spark crucial conversations and enable creative expression.

We work with people to push for social change
We’re taking a lead on socially engaged photography nationally. Bringing different voices, photographers and communities together, we establish projects where the collaborative process is just as important as the final product.

All welcome, always!
We act and communicate in a way that is generous, nurturing and friendly. We want everyone to make themselves at home in our spaces and join us in celebrating difference, speaking out against racism and all discrimination. We seek to include, always.