Ballarat Youth Photography Prize
Calling all photographers aged 12-25 from Ballarat and surrounds
The Ballarat Youth Photography Prize is a free award for young photographic artists aged 12-25 who live, work or study in Ballarat and Victoria’s Central Highlands.
We welcome photographs of all kinds, made by cameras of all kinds. You might photograph a person, places, animals, landscapes, objects, communities or moments from everyday life. You do not need professional equipment or previous photography experience to be considered for this award.
All eligible entries will be presented as part of a pop-up exhibition at the National Centre for Photography in September 2026, with cash prizes up for grabs for a winning entry in the open and themed categories for each age group (12-17 and 18-25).
Entries are open from Monday 10 August to Sunday 30 August 2026 at 11:59 pm.
The Ballarat Youth Photography Prize has been developed by the Ballarat International Foto Biennale’s youth council GroupFoto. The Biennale acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government via its Youth Fest initiative and the Department of Education through the Strategic Partnerships Program, and the support of UFS.
Important dates
Entries open: Monday 10 August 2026
Entries close: Sunday 30 August 2026 at 11:59 pm
Exhibition launch and awards: Sunday 20 September 2026, 2–4 pm
Exhibition: 20 September–4 October 2026 at selected opening times
People’s Choice voting: 20 September–4 October 2026
People’s Choice Award announcement: 6 October 2026
Print collection: Selected times on 8 and 9 October 2026 (to be confirmed)
Who can enter?
You can enter if you:
- are aged between 12 and 25 on 30 August 2026
- live, work or study in Ballarat or Victoria’s Central Highlands, including the following municipalities: Ararat Rural City, City of Ballarat, Golden Plains Shire, Hepburn Shire, Moorabool Shire and Pyrenees Shire
- submit a photograph you’ve taken yourself
- have the necessary permission from anyone who can be identified in your photograph, and
- have permission from a parent or caregiver if you are under 18.
Entry is free.
Award categories
The Ballarat Youth Photography Prize has two categories: open and themed. You may enter each category once only. Multiple entries per category are not permitted. One winner per age group (12-17 and 18-25) will be awarded per category.
Open Category
Photographs of any subject, idea, person, place or moment.
There is no set theme. Show us something that interests you, matters to you or catches your attention.
Themed Category: Connected
This category invites photographs exploring the many ways we experience connection. What helps you feel connected, and what might get in the way?
You might think about relationships with Country, family, friends, culture, identity, community, place or animals. You might photograph a person, community, activity, physical place or online space that helps you feel safe.
You could also explore how technology shapes connection through phones, gaming, social media, online communities, surveillance or access. Technology might bring people together, create distance, help us find community or change how we understand ourselves and others.
Interpret this theme in your own way. There is no single response to this prompt, and your photograph does not need to include technology.
Preparing your entry
Before entering, please read the Terms and Conditions.
What you’ll need to provide
For each photograph, you will be asked to provide:
- a title, or ‘Untitled’ if you prefer
- the year it was made
- a short description about the photograph, and
- details of any extensive editing or image-making processes.
Your short description about the photograph might explain:
- what inspired you to submit the photograph
- what the image represents
- where the image was made
- why the subject or moment matters to you
- how it responds to the Connected category
- what you would like viewers to notice, or
- or something else entirely.
A description is strongly encouraged because it helps the judges understand your ideas, but it is not essential. Your writing ability will not be judged.
Preparing your image files
To help us prepare for the exhibition, please provide your images:
- as a JPEG or PNG file
- at 300 dpi
- sized to at least 2,000 pixels along its longest edge
- no larger than 20 MB.
If you’re using a mobile phone image, please upload the highest quality version you have.
Name each file using this format: FirstName_LastName_ImageTitle
For example: Alex_Smith_AfterTheRain.jpg
Judging
Age Groups
Entries will be judged in two age groups:
- 12–17 years
- 18–25 years.
Prizes
Five awards will be presented, each with a $150 cash prize.
- Winner, Open Category, 12–17 years
- Winner, Open Category, 18–25 years
- Winner, Connected Category, 12–17 years
- Winner, Connected Category, 18–25 years
- UFS People’s Choice Award
The prize will be judged by Ballarat International Foto Biennale staff and members of GroupFoto.
Need help?
Contact education@ballaratfoto.org if you:
- need help completing the entry form
- are unsure whether your photograph is eligible
- need help preparing or uploading your file
- would like the information in another format
- have an access requirement.
We want the award to be accessible to young people with different levels of photography experience.
Frequently asked questions
How many photographs can I enter?
You may submit:
- one photograph in the Open category, and/or
- one photograph in the themed category Connected.
You can enter either category or both categories.
Each entry must be a single photograph. Photographic series or multiple entries per category will not be accepted.
What kinds of photographs are accepted?
Photographs made using any kind of camera are welcome, including:
- phone cameras
- digital cameras
- film cameras
- instant cameras, and/or
- other camera-based photographic processes.
Be aware that analogue formats will need to be scanned digitally to be submitted via the online form. If you would like to submit an original print, please email education@ballaratfoto.org.
You do not need an expensive camera or advanced technical skills.
All entries must be your own original work.
Can I edit my image(s)?
Yes, basic or minimal editing is welcome. This includes:
- cropping
- adjusting brightness, contrast or colour
- converting a colour image to black and white
- correcting minor technical issues.
Collage, compositing and other experimental photographic processes may also be entered, provided the work is based on photographs you made or sourced yourself (i.e. not AI generated material).
You will be asked to briefly describe any extensive editing, collage, compositing or other processes used to create your final image.
Can I submit an AI-generated image?
No, images that are created using generative artificial intelligence are not eligible.
This policy is not intended to condemn the use of AI in other contexts. It ensures that entries can be considered as photographs made by the entrant.
Where and when will the Ballarat Youth Photography Prize exhibition take place?
Every eligible photograph entered in the award will be included in an exhibition at the National Centre for Photography at 4 Bath Lane in central Ballarat. The exhibition will run from 20 September to 4 October, with a free launch event from 2-4 pm on Sunday 20 September.
A selection of entries will also be presented as an online exhibition to make the work accessible to audiences beyond Ballarat.