It’s that time of year again! For the fourth time, HELLERAU – European Center for the Arts in cooperation with Portraits Hellerau e.V. and the Kunstagentur Dresden are accepting your entry to the PORTRAITS – HELLERAU PHOTOGRAPHY AWARD.

Until the deadline of November 25, 2018, we are looking for photographic works relating to our new theme, »Uncovered«. After our recent competitions revolved around the concepts of change and presence, this year we are curious about your photographic portraits and photo series dealing with revelations, bare skin, with the unveiled body… From the classic nude and documentary uncoverings to the outer boundaries of portrait photography, where the portrayed human being may no longer be visible at all; only traces of him can be uncovered…

Three years ago, our jurors, photographer Matthias Creutziger and art historian Dr Katja Schumann, summed up their expectations in portrait photography in a few dashmarks:

1. We seek psychograms in the form of portraits.
2. We expect a new imagery that tries to break away from role models.
3. We want to feel what kind of photographer is behind the pictures.
4. We don’t really know what to make of fashion photography.
5. Craft and technique alone is too little.
6. Sheer beauty is too little.
7. We expect to see works by passionate photographers who challenge the medium of photography!

These suggestions have been the basis for our jury to engage with your works, to argue passionately for your position, and to propose your work for the various solo and group exhibitions of the competition. Please, do inspire us, inspire the audience of the Great Annual Exhibition, our Show of Finalists (Festspielhaus Hellerau) and the dozen or so satellite galleries in and around the German cities of Dresden and Hellerau! We look forward to your submissions.

Please note that under the new Artistic Directorship of HELLERAU – European Center of the Arts and after the founding of the Portraits Hellerau e.V., our terms of participation have changed.

Registration for the newsletter of the PORTRAITS competition (please specify your e-mail address):

Please find impressions from last year’s exhibitions on our Facebook page:

Oh, and if you want to help us translating these web pages into Russian, French, Spanish, Portugese, Chinese, and Japanese in exchange for a free entry to the PORTRAITS competition, let us know please 😉