WIPO Photography Prize for Indigenous Peoples and Local Community Youth 2021-2022
Through this activity, WIPO aims to celebrate and make widely known the creativity of Indigenous and local community youth, as well as raise their awareness on how copyright can be used to protect their creativity expressed in the photographs. The theme of the WIPO Photography Prize is Climate Change and Climate Action: Mother Earth through our Lenses. Participation is meant to encourage Indigenous and local community youth to express themselves on this issue of immense global significance.
Launched on International Youth Day (August 12, 2021), the WIPO Photography Prize was designed in consultation with an Advisory Board [PDF] made up of members of Indigenous peoples and local communities, as well as members of organizations, governments and individuals working on climate change, biodiversity, photography, intellectual property, media and entrepreneurship. WIPO is deeply grateful for their advice and support.
Social media kit
Download campaign materials in 7 languages from our social media kit.
WIPO Photography Prize for Indigenous Peoples and Local Community Youth 2021-2022
Photographs should illustrate:
- the impact of climate change on your communities, biodiversity and environment (land, air, water, flora and fauna, etc.); and/or
- practices, including ones based on Indigenous and traditional knowledge, or climate actions that allow your community to adapt to or mitigate the impact of climate change.
Submission deadline: January 22, 2022
The deadline was extended to January 31, 2022.
How to enter
Make an original photograph on the theme of Climate Change and Climate Action: Mother Earth through our Lenses supported by a brief description or short video on how the photograph relates to and expresses your feelings about the theme. Submitted photographs should follow the formatting guidelines outlined in the WIPO Photography Prize rules [PDF].
Attach a title as well as a brief personal profile on yourself and on the Indigenous people or local community to which you belong, including the way(s) in which you are involved in your community. These materials should be prepared in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish.
Timetable
- Submissions open: August 12, 2021
- Submissions close: January 22, 2022
The deadline was extended to January 31, 2022. - Shortlisted entries announced: March 22, 2022
See the shortlisted photographs - Winners announced: April 22, 2022
Learn more about the winners
Submit your entry by January 22, 2022, at 16h00 (Geneva time), through the online submission platform. The deadline was extended to January 31, 2022.
Entry is free of charge. By submitting an entry to the WIPO Photography Prize, the participant agrees to accept the WIPO Photography Prize rules [PDF].
Eligibility
Participants should be members of Indigenous peoples or local communities located in one of WIPO’s Member States under 30 years old on the closing date for submissions (January 22, 2022). For participants not of legal age (e.g., 18 years old), authorization from a legal guardian is required.
Participants must have taken the photographs and prepared the brief descriptions or short videos themselves.
Photographs must not have been previously recognized and/or awarded in another photography competition. Each participant can submit a maximum of one entry. Combined entries are not allowed.
Awards
Shortlisted and winning photographs will be announced on the WIPO website.
Winners will receive a variety of awards, including photography equipment and related software licenses with a total value of up to USD 3500 (1st place), USD 2500 (2nd place) and USD 1500 (3rd place), as well as photography-related training and mentoring opportunities through our partners.
Copyright in the submitted materials remains with the participants. However, participants grant WIPO the right to use the materials submitted for up to two years following the announcement of the winners solely for the purpose of its educational, promotional and capacity-building activities and related communication, fully crediting the copyright owners.
Judging process
WIPO will, in consultation with the appointed judges (see below), review and decide if the entries submitted comply with all the requirements outlined in the WIPO Photography Prize rules.
WIPO has appointed an external panel consisting of four judges who will shortlist a number of entries, followed by a selection of winners. The judges are internationally recognized photographers from Indigenous and local communities. Learn more about them.
Photographs will be judged according to their adherence to the theme, expression of theme, overall impact, originality, creativity, artistic expression, personal expression, visual appeal, among others.
Photographs will be judged on an experience- and technology-neutral basis, that is, without considering the participants’ professional experience or background or the use of professional or special equipment.
Winning participants will be notified by email and the official announcement of the winners will follow on April 22, 2022.
Questions?
If you have any questions about the WIPO Photography Prize, please contact us.
For further information, see the WIPO Photography Prize rules. In case of any doubt, the WIPO Photography Prize rules take precedence.
Related links
- Online submission platform
- WIPO Photography Prize rules [PDF]
- Advisory Board members [PDF]
- WIPO’s Member States
- Understanding Copyright and Related Rights
- WIPO's Personal Data and Privacy Policy