Terms and Conditions

The VMFA Aaron Siskind Prize is administered by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. We invite entries from artists working with still photo-based media.

Participation in the competition implies full acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

1. Eligibility

By submitting an entry to the VMFA Aaron Siskind Award photo competition, each applicant certifies that that all three of the statements below are true.

• I am a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.

• I am at least 18 years of age.

• Photography is my primary vocation.

A Photography collective or collaboration may apply. A single entry form should be submitted with one person listed as the main contact. The collaborative nature of the work must be clearly stated in the artist statement, and all artists' names should be listed. Additional CVs can be included as part of a single document.

Past recipient of the Aaron Siskind Individual Photographer's Fellowship (administered through the Aaron Siskind Foundation) may apply but may not submit the same portfolio of images.

Full-time VMFA employees are not eligible to apply.

2. Copyright

By taking part in the photo competition, the applicant confirms that they are the sole and exclusive owner of all submitted photographs.

Award recipients grant VMFA the right to use at least three (3) of their photographs for marketing and promotional activities directly related to the VMFA Aaron Siskind Award, without any renumeration being due. For such usage, the photographer will always be credited.

This use of the photos by VMFA is non-exclusive and non-commercial. This means that the photographer can continue to use the photos and VMFA will not pursue any commercial aims with the submitted photos.

3. Responsibility

The applicant has sole responsibility for any uploaded photographs. VMFA declines any responsibility for the images uploaded by applicants and any possible infringements of copyright.

4. Disclaimer

The organizer is not liable for the loss or damage of submitted files or for technical issues during transmission.

5. Restrictions

All images must have been created in the past seven (7) years (2018–present).

Both analog and digital photography are accepted. Analog images must be digitized for submission.

If Artificial Intelligence (AI) is used, it must not be the primary creative input. All images must originate from photographic processes. Any use of AI must be disclosed in the artist statement, along with details of the non-AI processes used.

6. Award Winners

Award winners will be notified during the first week of November 2025.

All award recipients must complete a Commonwealth of Virginia W-9 Form to be entered into the state's payment system. 

Award funds will be issued by paper check and will be dispersed in January 2026.

Award recipients must submit a summary report of how the award supported their creative work within 18 months of receiving it.

7. Data Protection

Personal data collected during the competition will be used exclusively for the purpose of conducting the competition. It will not be shared with third parties.