WIPO Photography Prize for Indigenous Youth 2024

Theme of the Photography Prize 2024

Indigenous Peoples’ Ways of Healing and Well-Being: Honoring Our Ancestors’ Wisdom and Knowledge

Under the theme Indigenous Peoples’ Ways of Healing and Well-Being: Honoring Our Ancestors’ Wisdom and Knowledge, Indigenous Peoples' youth are invited to use photography to tell the world how their communities' lifestyles, beliefs and cultures are fundamentally related to their health and well-being.
The photograph and accompanying story could portray, for example:
  • protective factors that contribute to the participants’ communities health and well-being, such as traditional medicines, access to their lands, territories and resources, traditional foods, water, climate, environment, and traditional healing and healthcare practices;
  • risk factors challenging their ability to stay healthy; and/or
  • collective efforts in health promotion in the participants' communities, illustrating a holistic/"one health" approach to health and well-being ("one health" is an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize the health of people, animals and the environment).
Note: The participant should secure consent to display traditional knowledge and/or traditional cultural expressions of their community in the photograph, in accordance with domestic and/or customary laws. Likewise, the photograph and its description should not contain any sacred, secret, or sensitive content that could potentially disclose information meant exclusively for members of the community.

Timetable

  1. Competition launch: April 7, 2024
  2. Closing date for entries: July 15, 2024, at 23:59 (Geneva time)
  3. Announcement of the shortlisted entries (the finalists): September 24, 2024
  4. Announcement of the winning entries (the winners): December 2, 2024

Who can participate?

Participants should be members of Indigenous Peoples located in one of WIPO’s Member States and be between 18 and 35 years old on the closing date for entries (July 15, 2024).

Eligibility

The participants must have taken the photographs and prepared the brief descriptions themselves.
Photographs must not have been previously recognized and/or awarded in another photography competition. Each participant can submit a maximum of one entry. Group entries are not allowed.
If required, the participant should secure consent to display traditional knowledge and/or traditional cultural expressions in the photograph. Likewise, the photograph should not contain any sacred, secret or sensitive content.
Copyright in the submitted materials remains with the participants. However, participants grant WIPO the right to use the materials submitted 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.

Awards

Winners will receive photography equipment of a total value of up to:
  • USD 4,000 (1st place)
  • USD 3,000 (2nd place)
  • USD 2,000 (3rd place)
Shortlisted and winning photographs will be announced on the WIPO website.

Get inspired by the previous editions

How to enter

  • Step 1
    Take and submit an original photograph on the theme of Indigenous Peoples’ Ways of Healing and Well-Being: Honoring Our Ancestors’ Wisdom and Knowledge, supported by a brief description of how the photograph is related to the theme and how it expresses your vision about the theme.
    Submitted photographs should follow the formatting guidelines outlined in paragraph 5 of the Photography Prize 2024 rules [PDF].
  • Step 2
    Include a title as well as a brief personal profile about yourself and the Indigenous People to which you belong.
  • Step 3
    Submit your entry by July 15, 2024, through the online platform. Materials can be submitted in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish.
    Entry is free of charge. By submitting an entry to the Prize, the participant agrees to accept the Photography Prize 2024 rules [PDF].

Judging process

Photographs will be judged on a technology-neutral basis, that is, without considering the participants’ professional experience or the use of professional or special equipment.
The evaluation criteria for entries are the expression of the theme; originality, creativity, and artistic expression; inspirational power; visual appeal; and community-related impact.
WIPO will appoint an external jury to shortlist several entries, followed by a selection of winners. The judges will be internationally recognized Indigenous photographers. WIPO will, in consultation with the judges, review and decide if the entries submitted comply with all the requirements outlined in the Photography Prize 2024 rules [PDF].
All accepted photographs and other submitted materials, along with the participants’ full names, may be published on the WIPO website and competition platform.
Winning participants will be notified by email and the official announcement of the winners will follow on October 2024.

Advisory board

WIPO would like to acknowledge the valuable advice and support provided by the members of the Advisory Board.

Social media kit

Download materials in seven languages from our social media kit, including visuals, flyers, and more.

About the WIPO Photography Prize

Through this activity, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) celebrates and makes widely known the creativity of young members of Indigenous Peoples. Participation encourages Indigenous youth to convey an impactful message about their peoples, communities and culture through photographic storytelling.
The WIPO Photography Prize also raises awareness among young participants and their communities on how copyright can be used by them to protect their creativity expressed in the photographs.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the WIPO Photography Prize, please contact us.

For further information, see the WIPO Photography Prize rules [PDF]. In case of any doubt, the WIPO Photography Prize 2024 rules take precedence.