Critical Mass | Get Your Work on the Radar

CRITICAL MASS

Get Your Work on the Radar - online!

Registration is now open for Photolucida’s Critical Mass!
Submissions open May 12 - June 19, 2020.

Early Bird Submission Fee (deadline 5/22) – $50
Regular Submission Fee (deadline 6/19) – $60

The world is a different place than a year ago. Photolucida, like all organizations, has been working hard to adapt our programming to better align with the current economic reality and emphasize online-focused awards and exposure. The good news is Critical Mass is an online program - so now is the time to make the work, organize the work, write about the work, and get it out there!

Critical Mass 2020 awards include a solo exhibition at Blue Sky Gallery during Portland Photo Month 2021, a prestigious artist’s residency at the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation’s Captiva Island estate (slated for 2022), and - NEW! - Fraction Feature Award: Ten Finalists will be selected for a dedicated Critical Mass issue on Fraction.

And! Photolucida is so pleased to be collaborating with two fabulously talented artists, Matt Eich and Priya Kambli for our Print Collecting Initiative this year! Each Finalist will receive the print of their choice (printed on Hahnemühle's gorgeous textured PhotoRag® 308 paper) to add to their collection.

And! A number of Finalists (25+) will be chosen to receive a copy of Odette England’s important new monograph, Keeper of the Hearth (Schilt Publishing, 2020). This title is quickly becoming widely acclaimed, and we are happy to reserve some copies for Critical Mass programming.

We will also be increasing the number of Michael Reichmann Project Grants - Five photographers selected from the 200 Finalist group will be awarded $1k each, cash, to go toward the development of a current or future project. Three photographers selected from the Finalist group will each be given a “Golden Ticket” to the Photolucida 2021 Reviews Event in Portland with all registration fees covered.

But really, Critical Mass is not just about the awards, it's about getting your work out in an efficient way to a large number of photo industry people who want to see your work - and what better time than now? Check out our pretty great and growing JUROR LINE-UP!

* Note: Photolucida is happy to once again offer Critical Mass scholarships to MFA Program students. Are you a faculty member who would like to nominate someone? Are you an MFA student interested in submitting your work? Let us know by June 1st!

Details on the Awards  |  Meet the Critical Mass Jury |  Read the Success Stories

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