BIFB’s portrait prize open

THE Ballarat International Foto Biennale’s Martin Kantor Portrait Prize is now taking submissions for its 2021 exhibition.

With the potential to have artwork hung during next year’s BIFB in August to October, any portrait photographer or photo media creative is eligible to enter the awards process, and could win $15,000.

Submitting imagery of a significant living Australian, the subject must be a distinguished figure relating to art, sports, science, politics or letters, and the winning entry will be an “exceptional photographic portrait.”

BIFB artistic director, Fiona Sweet said it’s the third Martin Kantor Portrait Prize to be run, encouraging Ballarat and national talent to enter.

“Think about significant people in our Ballarat community and consider taking their portraits for this prize,” she said.

“Since 2017, we’ve attracted many fabulous, local Ballarat photographers and some of the most significant photographic artists from around Australia, from Christian Thompson, to John Gollings, Tamara Dean and Katrin Koenning.

“It’s not just the artists that are significant, it’s the judges. Artists always want to be seen by significant judges, so this year we have Max Delany, the artistic director of ACCA, and Bill Henson.”

Past finalists have included Helga Leunig for her portrait of Courtney Barnett, Rod McNicol’s Jack Charles, Alex Ellinghausen’s Julia Gillard and Steve Young’s Paul Kelly.

Visit ballaratfoto.org/martin-kantor-portrait-prize for more information.

The entry process will run until June, before the exhibition is held in the Ballarat Town Hall during BIFB. Artists can enter their personal details, a JPEG image and a statement up to 200 words online.