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Open Call
The $20,000 Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture
A $20,000 prize awarded annually to a photographer whose work demonstrates a compelling new vision in photographic portraiture.
In addition to the winner, the jury selects three finalists each year who are invited to participate in an exhibit at the Griffin Museum of Photography. The Prize is generously funded by the Arnold & Augusta Newman Foundation and proudly administered by Maine Media. The Griffin Museum of Photography hosts the annual exhibition of work by the winner and three finalists each October.
The 2023 jury consists of Sarah Leen, Caleb Cain Marcus, and Lisa Elmaleh. View the 2022 winner, finalists, and honorable mentions.
The contest is open to all photographers age 18+ internationally, except where laws prohibit it.
In addition to the winner, the jury selects three finalists each year who are invited to participate in an exhibit at the Griffin Museum of Photography. The Prize is generously funded by the Arnold & Augusta Newman Foundation and proudly administered by Maine Media. The Griffin Museum of Photography hosts the annual exhibition of work by the winner and three finalists each October.
The 2023 jury consists of Sarah Leen, Caleb Cain Marcus, and Lisa Elmaleh. View the 2022 winner, finalists, and honorable mentions.
The contest is open to all photographers age 18+ internationally, except where laws prohibit it.
Status: Closed
Deadline
(11:59 PM, EST)
Entry fee
$60 (USD)
Submit
Submissions are closed.
Brief & Application Procedure
Submissions have closed.
How to Enter
All submissions to the Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture must be submitted through the contest platform Visura. No mail-in submissions will be accepted. Please read all terms and conditions before entering. If you have any questions or issues, please contact contest@mainemedia.edu.
What to Submit
- The core of your submission is a cohesive group of up to 12 images that are all a part of a single project, portfolio, or series focused on photographic portraiture (JPEGs at 300ppi, 1280 pixels on the long side) - Once uploaded, please use the 'edit' button or click on your image to include a title and caption for each image.
- Artist Statement about the series you are submitting (600 word limit)
- A brief bio telling us who you are as an artist
- CV (uploaded in pdf format)
- A brief statement about how winning The Arnold Newman Prize for New Directions in Photographic Portraiture would impact and further your career goals
Fee & Fee Waiver
There is a $60 fee per submission. All fees are paid through Visura and are non-refundable. Photographers who cannot afford the submission fee may be eligible for a fee waiver - email contest@mainemedia.edu to inquire about eligibility.
FAQs
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 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: Is there a timeframe the submitted work has to be made within?
A: No, we have no hard deadline on when work was made, but we encourage contestants to submit work that they may consider contemporary.
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.