Czech Republic: Museum of Romani Culture announces photography competition

Are you a Romani person with family photographs that were taken in Czechoslovakia prior to 1989, or do you enjoy taking pictures and want to show them to others? If so, then you can submit your photographic work to the Museum of Romani Culture's photography competition inspired by the Romani photographer Andrej Pešta, whose exhibition "Andrej Pešta: Mire sveti / The Worlds of Andrej Pešta" can be visited at the Museum in Brno from now until 10 March 2019.

Pešta was active as a photographer primarily from 1950 to 1980. His main subject was his own family and closest friends.

In the first category of this competition, "The Romani Family", the Museum is referencing this fact and seeking new photographs from Romani family albums that were put together not just during the time at which Pešta worked, but even before 1950. In addition to his family, Pešta also photographed cultural events of all kinds.

Pešta was an active documentarist as well. Through the second category of the competition, "Roma Behind the Camera", the Museum wants to expand Pešta's worlds to include new ones that have been documented and experienced by other Romani photographers.

The contest opened on 9 October and will run through 28 February 2019. People can apply by sending in a form describing their photo(s) along with at least one and no more than 10 photographs that correspond to the contest themes.

Competition categories and themes:

The Romani Family - Group photographs from family albums, portraits, snapshots, daily life in Romani families on the territory of Czechoslovakia until 1989.

Roma Behind the Camera - Are you a Romani man or woman who photographs? This category is for photographs on any subject that have been taken by a single photographer.

The Museum accepts contest entries either electronically or physically. They can be of any dimensions, and the physical photographs can be either originals or reproductions.

You can submit your completed application form - which can be downloaded here - and your entries electronically through the Museum's website, or deliver them in person or through the regular mail by 28 February 2019 at the latest to the Museum. If delivering printed photographs, please write "FOTOSOUTĚŽ MUZEA ROMSKÉ KULTURY" on the envelope in large block letters.

An expert jury will award a prize for each category as well as CZK 3 000 [EUR 120]. The contest rules and all other necessary information can be found on the website of the Museum.