Arnold Newman Prize

Based in 1233 Road rd., Rockland Maine USA

The Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture is a $20,000 prize awarded annually to a photographer whose work demonstrates a compelling new vision in photographic portraiture. The jury will select a Top Ten,... read on

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Have a question? Please read the answers to commonly asked questions below. If you can’t find the answer to your question, please email us at contest@mainemedia.edu.

Q: Who is Arnold Newman?
A: Arnold Newman (1918-2006) is acknowledged as one of the great masters of the 20th and 21st century and his work has changed portraiture. He is recognized as the “Father of Environmental Portraiture.” His work is collected and exhibited in the major museums around the world including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; The Museum of Modern Art, New York; The Chicago Art Institute; The Los Angeles Museum of Art; The Philadelphia Museum; The Tate and the National Portrait gallery, London; The Israel Museum, Jerusalem; and many other prominent museums in Europe, Japan, South America, Australia, etc. You can learn more about Arnold Newman and his body of work here.

Q: Why was the Arnold Newman Prize established?
A: Arnold Newman had an insatiable fascination with people and the physical world around him. In his work, he constantly explored the boundaries of portraiture and embodied the spirit of artistic innovation. He was also a passionate teacher–he taught at Maine Media every summer for over 30 years.  In honor of Arnold’s legacy as both a photographer and mentor, The Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture recognizes excellence in a new generation of photographers by awarding $20,000 to a winning photographer and elevating the work of the winner and three finalists in the press and through an exhibition at the Griffin Museum of Photography. The prize, the second largest in the United States, is designed to assist the winner in continuing the pursuit of their work and to serve as a launching pad for the next phase of their careers.

Q: What are the image specifications?
A: Images should be uploaded as JPEGs. 300pi, 1280 pixels on the long side.

Q: What should I name my image files?
A: You don’t have to worry about file names. There are optional fields on Visura for image titles and image captions.

Q: How many submissions can I enter?
A: You can enter as many submissions as you like. Each submission of 12 images and accompanying documents is $60.

Q: When will I be notified?
A: All entrants will be notified in August 2023 about their status in the prize.

Q: Will the jurors review all submissions?
A: Yes, the jurors will review all submissions, there is no pre-jury screening of the submissions.

Q: Is the prize money taxed?
A: The $20,000 prize is a form of taxable income. We encourage the winning artist to speak with a tax professional to identify how the prize money will impact their yearly taxes.

Q: Does The Arnold Newman Prize cover printing, framing, and shipping work to the winner/finalist exhibit at the Griffin Museum of Photography in October?
A: Artists who are selected as winner or finalists will be responsible for the costs associated with printing, framing, and shipping their work to the Griffin for the exhibition. We are unable to provide a travel stipend to attend the opening reception.