The National Photographic Portrait Prize (NPPP) has been going on for a long time. How is this year different?
From 2024, if you are selected as a finalist, you will receive:
- A total artist fee of $1200 (ex GST) to exhibit your work.
- An additional fee of $700 (ex GST) if your work is included in the NPPP 2024 National Tour.
- A total copyright and image licensing fee of $1000 (ex GST).
- An allowance to be determined by the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) for return domestic artwork freight.
- An allowance to be determined by the NPG for return domestic economy travel for the artist to the NPG for the exhibition launch.
- One night’s accommodation for the artist in Canberra for the night of the exhibition launch.
- An access statement form to complete which will help the NPG understand any access requirements.
I made the work with another artist. Can we submit together?
Yes. The details of each artist, collaborators or artist collectives will need to be provided when submitting the entry through the online portal. If the entry is a collaboration between two or more artists, the noted artist fee, touring fee and copyright and image licensing fee payment will be shared between all parties.
How old do you have to be to enter the NPPP?
Entrants must be 18 years or older at the time of submitting an online entry.
Can I enter more than one photograph?
No. Each artist or artist collective may only submit one photographic artwork to the NPPP.
Can I enter a photographic artwork with multiple parts?
Yes, your photograph can consist of multiple parts. If your work does consist of multiple parts, the supplied digital file of the work of art must show all parts of the photograph. If selected as a finalist and any individual framed part of your photograph exceeds 140cm in height x 140cm in width, it may not be able to be part of the NPPP 2024 National Tour.
What is meant by ‘entries that have been selected for exhibition or as a finalist in any other Australian or international prize’ at the time of entry?
If your work has previously been selected as a finalist and has been displayed in an Australian or international art prize or award your work is ineligible for entry into the NPPP. This condition does not apply to works that are displayed in solo or group exhibitions that are not a prize or an award. For example, you can still apply for the NPPP 2024 if you have recently exhibited your work in a solo or group exhibition in Australia or internationally.
If my work is a finalist for an online prize, am I still eligible to enter the NPPP?
No. Your entry to the NPPP 2024 cannot be a finalist artwork in any online, Australian or international prize, previous to the NPPP 2024 or concurrently with it.
Can I use editing software such as Photoshop to alter my photograph?
Yes. Editing software is allowed to alter a photograph.
Please note that if selected as a finalist, the NPG may exclude a photograph from the NPPP, the exhibition or NPPP 2024 National Tour if it appears to have been significantly altered when compared to the digital file submitted at the time of entry.
Can I use Generative Artificial Intelligence tools to create or edit my photograph?
If your process has involved any Generative AI Tools, you must specify this in your artist statement, outlining what tools were used and how. You must also make sure that you have all the relevant IP permissions as outlined in the Terms and Conditions.
What is a portrait?
The NPG’s definition of ‘portrait’ is considered broadly to include different cultural and conceptual artistic practices and styles used to represent the human form and/or an individual’s experience of the world we live in.
Can I submit a portrait of an animal?
No. While animals can feature in your entry, the portrait must represent a human.
Can I submit a self portrait?
Yes, self portraits as a form of portraiture are encouraged. We recommend having a look at previous NPPP finalists who have submitted self portraits here.
Do sitters have to be significant, well-known or public Australian figures?
No. The sitter/subject does not have to be a significant or well-known Australian figure.
What is meant by ‘from a live sitting’?
This means your photograph must be taken from a live sitting (interaction) with your sitter. A sitting can also be conducted using video communication technology.
What if I didn’t get the consent of my subject or only received verbal permission to take the portrait? What are responsibilities to track down the subject of the photograph?
All entrants should complete a sitter consent form for each sitter/subject (and all finalists will be asked to provide this). If it was not reasonably practical for you to obtain the written consent of your subject/sitter, you will need to explain why on the entry form. If your sitter/subject is under 18, your entry must be accompanied by a sitter consent form signed by their parent/guardian to be eligible. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for the consent requirements.
What if my sitter/subject has recently passed away?
In this instance, the sitter’s statement must be signed by the executor of the sitter’s estate and their name and their position as executor needs to be written on the statement.
The Terms and Conditions say that an entry must be taken ‘after 2 February 2023’. What does taken mean? What if I exposed a negative earlier and printed it after this date or took a digital photograph before this date but altered a digital file substantially after this date?
The date taken is the date of the original digital or manual capture of the photographic image. As such the two noted examples would be ineligible. For the purposes of the NPPP, we understand a photograph to be ‘taken’ on the date of the actual shoot or sitting, when the raw photo data was shot, not the date when the image is processed or digitally manipulated.
Can I enter a photograph that I created before 2 February 2023?
No. A photograph taken before 2 February 2023 is ineligible for entry.
Can I submit a photograph that is part of an ongoing series?
Yes, you can submit a photograph that is part of an ongoing series, however the photograph that you choose to submit must be taken after 2 February 2023.
Does my photograph need to be taken in Australia?
No.
What does ‘Australian resident’ mean?
The NPG defines ‘Australian resident’ as an Australian resident for taxation purposes, consistent with the Australian Tax Office guidelines.
Can my work be displayed as a finalist if my photographic work is located overseas?
Yes. If you are selected as a finalist, you will be responsible for the transportation of the work from your overseas location to an Australian address. The NPG will then liaise with you regarding the details of the freight from the Australian address to the NPG and its return to an Australian address. You will be responsible for all importation and exportation documentation, customs and quarantine checks and fees related to the transportation of your work from overseas to Australia. You will also be responsible for all insurances for the travel of your work from overseas to Australia and the condition of the work and condition checks when received in Australia.
What is an artist CV?
An artist CV (curriculum vitae) is similar to a professional CV that you would submit for an employment position. However, instead of listing employment history it should outline your professional visual arts practice and contain information related to your artistic career. Please include career highlights such as any solo or group exhibitions your work has been exhibited in, any experience, courses, residencies, awards, grants, articles, collections that your work is in and/or other achievements that relate to your arts practice.
What should I do if I can’t upload my CV, image or other documents in the entry form?
If you are having difficulty uploading your images or any part of your entry, try again using a different web browser. If this still doesn’t work, please contact NPPP2024@npg.gov.au
What if I want to change my submitted photograph?
The online entry portal allows you to manage, edit and save your entry up to the closing date and time for submissions at 9:00am Australian Eastern Daylight Time on 9 February 2024.
Do I have to pay to enter?
No, there is no entry fee for the NPPP for 2024.
What if I have questions about the copyright requirements?
Please contact NPPP2024@npg.gov.au and provide the details of your work and any questions you may have. Please be aware content captured in the background of paintings (i.e. other works of art) may require copyright clearance.
Can my photograph include representations of artwork/s in the background?
Content captured in the background of photographs (other works of art) may require copyright clearance. If your photograph includes any artworks which are not yours, you will need to seek in writing permission from the copyright owner to represent their artwork in your photograph. You will also need to ensure they have granted permission for the NPG to reproduce your photograph, and subsequently their artwork, for all purposes outlined in the Intellectual Property and Copyright section of the Terms and Conditions if you become a finalist. If you are a finalist, you must provide those permissions that to the NPG. If you have any questions, please contact NPPP2024@npg.gov.au and the team will consult with our copyright team.
How should I frame my work?
The choice of whether your work requires framing is your decision, however please be aware that no framing will be undertaken by the NPG. If your photograph does not require framing or is not two dimensional, please provide detailed dimensions and outline any installation requirements via the application form.
If selected as a finalist, your work including any display elements must be stable enough to withstand continuous display. Additionally, if your work exceeds 140 cm height x 140cm width (including any framing) it may not be able to be part of the NPPP 2024 National Tour.
What if my work exceeds 140cm x 140cm?
If your work exceeds 140cm in height x 140cm in width (including framing) and you are accepted as a finalist, your work may be excluded from the National Tour.
How much will finalists be paid and when?
The following will be paid for each finalist artwork (this will be per artist for single works or split across all artists for collaborative works):
- A total artist fee of $1200 (ex GST) to exhibit your work.
- A total copyright and image licensing fee of $1000 (ex GST).
- An additional fee of $700 (ex GST) if your work is included in the NPPP 2024 National Tour.
The NPG will be in contact regarding payment and any related requirements once artworks have been received and condition-checked on site.
What freight costs does the NPG cover?
If you are selected as a finalist, the NPG will cover the transport to the NPG from an Australian address and return to you within Australia. If you are selected as a finalist the NPG will contact you to discuss all details of freight. Please do not take any action until you have been contacted.
When does my photograph need to be at the NPG?
If selected as a finalist, your photograph will need to be available for delivery to the NPG between 29 April and 10 May 2024 inclusive. Finalists will be contacted by the NPG to coordinate the artwork freight. Please do not take any action until you have been contacted.
Will my work be returned to me after the exhibition?
If selected for the touring exhibition, finalist artworks will be returned at the conclusion of the exhibition’s tour, in early 2026. If a finalist artwork is not selected for tour it will be returned at the conclusion of the exhibition at the NPG, in late 2024. All finalists will be contacted by the NPG to coordinate the return of their artwork. Please do not take any action until you have been contacted.
How are the entries judged?
The first round of judging will be conducted using the electronic image submitted by each artist or artist collective. If your entry is selected by the judges for the NPPP 2024 exhibition, you become a finalist. The winner of the NPPP 2024 will be selected by a judging panel of at least three members. At all stages, the decision of the judges is final, and no discussion will be entered into.
When will the next NPPP be run?
You can check out our website, sign up to our mailing list and follow us on social media @portraitau to stay up to date on the next NPPP.
