Fineman Foto award a launch-pad

BALLARAT International Foto Biennale is accepting entries for their second Fineman New Photography Award until Friday, 23 April.

The process spotlights photographic artists of the Asia-Pacific region and hopes to propel those beginning to see critical attention, who are ready for a global audience.

BIFB artistic director Fiona Sweet said of those that enter, the work of six finalists maximum will be exhibited in the BIFB core program. Curators will assist them to make their showcase a reality.

“The Fineman New Photography Award is a fantastic opportunity to be exhibited at the 2021 Biennale…mallowing artists to enter a series of work which responds to this year’s festival premise Past. Tense. Now. and have their work reviewed by an international jury,” she said.

“It provides a significant launch-pad for the careers of the finalists, bringing industry attention to their work in Australia and worldwide.”

Each applicant’s work will be seen and assessed by a panel of top international gallery directors and curators.

Judges include RMIT University lecturer Fayen Ke-Xiao D’Evie, Asialink Arts director Pippa Dickson, Singapore International Photography Festival director Gwen Lee, Independent curator Eriko Noguchi, independent photographic curator Miho Odaka, Parsons School of Design MFA Photography director Jim Ramer, artist and writer Shubigi Rao, La Trobe Art Institute director Bala Starr, curator and Edinburgh Napier University lecturer Alexander Supartono, and Ballarat International Foto Biennale artistic director Fiona Sweet.

The overall winner of the Fineman New Photography Award will receive $10,000. A public people’s choice winner will be awarded $1000.

Successful finalists will be notified from Tuesday, 1 June. Visit bit.ly/2Rfi2CM for more information, or to apply.