The Riga Photography Biennial Awards 2018

July 26, 2017
Author Echo Gone Wrong
Published in Calls from Latvia
Vika Eksta, animated GIF ''Double doors'', 2015

Vika Eksta, animated GIF ”Double doors”, 2015

The second Riga Photography Biennial will take place in spring 2018. Its programme will consist of two main parts – several indoor and outdoor exhibitions in Riga, as well as in Liepaja, Cesis and Daugavpils; and an education programme, which, in addition to discussions and artist presentations, will also include an interdisciplinary symposium and other events. Special attention will be given to emerging photographers by announcing the award – ‘Seeking the latest in photography!’.

The Riga Photography Biennial Awards 2018

The goal of the Seeking the Latest in Photography Award is to discover and appraise the creative efforts of young artists, who show the power of the image in their works, offering an original point of view and conceptual depth, suited to the times. The Biennial is seeking the portfolios of the types of artists who stimulate discussion and offer diverse ideas. At the same time, we wish to provide an opportunity for young artists, who are beginning their creative searches in photography or a medium connected with it, so that they can announce themselves to a wider audience.

The three finalists selected by the international jury, including the winner will have the opportunity to exhibit their works during the Biennale at the joint exhibition at the Riga Art Space’s Intro Hall. The portfolio of the winner of the Award will be published in the Biennial’s publication. Encouragement awards and special awards are planned as well. Completed projects, as well as works which are still in process, can be submitted to the Awards. The opening of the exhibition will take place on April 2018 and the exhibition will remain open for viewing 1 month.

Selection process for the works and the composition of the jury

The selection will take place in two parts. In the second part, 15 projects/series will be selected, from which the international jury will select three finalists. The winner will be selected in turn from these three. The works by all three finalists will be shown at the exhibition. The international jury comprises: critic, curator and editor-in-chief of Szum magazine Adam Mazur (Poland), editor-in-chief of art portal Arterritory and director at culture project agency INDIE Daiga Rudzāte (Latvia), curator and deputy editor of YET magazine Paola Paleari (Italy), artist Ieva Epnere (Latvia), curator and kim? Contemporary Art Centre programme director Valentinas Klimaśauskas (Lithuania), curator, critic and gallery manager at Tartu Art House Indrek Grigor (Estonia), Brandts Museum of Art and Visual Culture in Odense curator Marianne Ager (Denmark), visual arts researcher and co-founder of the ISSP association Baiba Tetere (Latvia).

One of the awards will be made by NoRoutine Books founders Gytis Skudžinskas and Vilma Samulionyte (Lithuania) – the winner of this award will have a chance to publish a book of their photos.

Who can apply?

Artists and photographers from the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who are beginning their careers and are aged from 18 to 35 years (on 15 of September 2017), are invited to submit works for the competition.

Dates for submission and further process

17th July to 15th September 2017 – acceptance of submissions;
3rd October 2017 – applicants for the second round will be notified – 15 artists;
15th November 2017 – three finalists, whose works will be exhibited at the Riga Art Space, will be announced. Till January 15, 2018 the finished project needs to be submitted, if the project is selected for the final, and was still in the process of being completed;
April 2018 – opening of the exhibition where the winners of the competition will receive their awards.

More information: http://www.rpbiennial.com/award.html