Frequently asked questions

Am I eligible to enter?
To enter you must be aged 18 or over as of the close of entry, 30 June 2025. Employees and relatives of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale are not eligible. The award is open to all photographers of all nationalities.

What must I submit?
The entry must be a still work that has been substantially produced by photographic means, including analogue and digital photography, collage and mixed media of a physical living individual who is distinguished in art, letters, science, sports or politics within the Australian community. It should be a recognisable image of an individual person. Entries must be the original work of the photographer, who must also be the sole copyright holder of the work. They must also ensure that they have obtained the consent of their subject/s. This includes all persons featured in their entry and requires that their subject/s understand their rights regarding the photograph being taken. Entries must not have previously been exhibited at a major public institution or selected as a finalist of any other prize.

Where can I get a suitable consent form?
The consent can be a note or email from the sitter however if the judges request proof of consent, you will be required to provide proof of eligibility as outlined in the terms and conditions. We don’t offer a standard consent form as many photographers have their own version or the consent varies depending on the subject.

How do I submit my entry?
Entrants must submit an artist’s statement of a maximum 200 words and a current CV as part of the online entry form.

Each entry must be submitted as a digital file saved as a jpeg. Image file size must not exceed 10MB. Original prints (hard copies) of entries will not be accepted for the initial judging and selection process. The organisers will accept submissions from now until 9 June 2023, 11.59PM AEST.

The fee for entry is a non-refundable $50 AUD. Payment must be made online at ballaratfoto.org (including Visa and Mastercard). Entrants whose payments cannot be processed will be considered ineligible.

How much is the entry fee?
There is a non-refundable entrance fee of $50 per image. There is no limit to the number of images you may submit as entries. Each image will incur an entry fee.

Who owns the photograph once it is submitted?
Intellectual property rights in entries remain with the finalist as the copyright owner. It is a condition of entry that the entrant grants to the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, without conditions, a perpetual royalty-free licence to use, publicly display, publicise, reproduce the entry or part of an entry, including in electronic form and broadcast, for publicity, promotional, educational and administrative purposes associated with the 2025 Martin Kantor Portrait Prize, in both digital and print mediums.

Does my photograph need to be taken in Australia?
No it doesn’t but it must be of an Australian individual who is distinguished in art, letters, science, sports or politics. Subjects may reside outside of Australia.

Can I use editing software, such as Photoshop, to alter my photograph?
Yes.

My portrait is comprised of multiple images, is this valid for entry?
Yes. However, if selected as a finalist this set of images must be printed and framed as one work within the maximum frame requirements (no larger than 80cm (w) x 80cm (h)). For example, this could be presented as a diptych or triptych, or it could feature multiple small portraits framed as one work. For multiple images as one entry, please ensure there is only one jpeg file uploaded – do not send multiple images intended to be presented as one work.

How are the entries judged?
A panel nominated by the Ballarat International Foto Biennale will select the finalist works for exhibition from the digital images supplied. The judges will select the winner of the acquisitive prize from the exhibited work. The winner will be announced on Saturday 4 October 2025. At all stages, the decision of the judges is final, and no discussion will be entered.

FINALISTS

What if my entry is selected for exhibition?
Finalists will be notified by 14 July 2025. Entrants who are not selected as finalists will not be notified.

Finished works (printed and framed) must be delivered to the Ballarat International Foto Biennale in Ballarat by 7 August 2025. Dates and times for delivery are to be confirmed with the festival team in writing. Works selected for exhibition must be available for continuous display for the duration of the exhibition. The Ballarat International Foto Biennale reserves the right to remove works from the exhibition at its discretion.

It is the responsibility of finalists to organise and pay for the transport of their selected work to and from the exhibition venue. Ballarat International Foto Biennale will not be liable for any loss or damage during this transport. Any damage or loss in transit of a finalist’s work, however caused, is the responsibility of the finalist and are therefore advised to insure it against such risks.

What if I win?
There is an acquisitive first prize of $15,000 generously sponsored by The Kantor Family.

Will my photograph be returned to me after the exhibition?
The Prize is acquisitive; meaning the printed winning framed photograph immediately becomes the property of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale. All other unsold work must be collected between 20 to 24 October 2025 from the exhibition venue.

Martin Kantor Portrait Prize Terms and Conditions

1. The Martin Kantor Portrait Prize is part of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale. Ballarat International Foto Biennale is also known and referred to as BIFB.

2. All applicants must be 18 years or older as of the closing date of the 2025 Martin Kantor Portrait Prize, 30 June 2025, 11.59pm AEST. The award is open to all Nationalities.

3. Employees and relatives of the organisers of the competition and of the 2025 Ballarat International Foto Biennale entities are not eligible to enter.

4. Entries must:

• be a still work that has been substantially produced by photographic means, including analogue and digital photography, collage and mixed media
• be of an Australian individual who is distinguished in art, letters, science, sports or politics (the subject may reside outside of Australia)
• be a photograph taken from life (that is, of a physical, living person), self-portraits will be accepted
• not have been previously selected as a finalist in a prize or exhibited at a major public institution
• have been executed and produced within the past 10 years. That is from 1 January 2015 onwards.

5. For multiple images which constitute one complete artwork, please ensure there is only one jpeg file uploaded – do not send multiple images intended to be presented as one work.

6. The photographer warrants that the work submitted is original and does not infringe the copyright, moral rights or other rights of any third party and that he or she owns all rights and interests in the work submitted. The photographer will indemnify and keep indemnified the Ballarat International Foto Biennale against any claim by a third party in relation to the work. If an entrant’s work is selected for exhibition, the organisers may require them to provide written evidence of their subject/s consent.

7. The work must not be used in promotional material for any other event or exhibition until the conclusion of the 2025 Ballarat International Foto Biennale Martin Kantor Portrait Prize.

8. The Prize is acquisitive; meaning the printed winning framed artwork immediately becomes the property of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.

9. Copyright ownership in all of the photographs entered and/or exhibited will remain with the photographer.

10. The Ballarat International Foto Biennale will edit artist statements for consistency before publication.

11. Entries must be submitted via ballaratfoto.org as jpg files @ 300dpi and file size no larger than 10MB, accompanied by a completed entry form, subject consent form and a non-refundable entry fee of $50 (10% discount for ‘Friends‘) per photograph submitted.

12. Any photographs that are watermarked will not be accepted.

13. The judges will select the finalist photographs from digital images supplied. The prize will be judged from the exhibited work.

The Ballarat International Foto Biennale and the judges have absolute discretion in determining the eligibility of an entry based on their interpretation of the Terms and Conditions of entry. The judges’ decision will be final and not subject to discussion or appeal and no correspondence will be entered into.

14. Photographers whose work/s have been chosen as finalists will be notified by email or telephone of their success by 14 July 2025. Unsuccessful entrants will not be personally notified. All entries selected as finalists will be displayed on ballaratfoto.org and may also be displayed on other social media at the discretion of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale.

15. Up to 20 finalists will be selected for the 2025 BIFB Martin Kantor Portrait Prize Finalist Exhibition as part of the Ballarat International Foto Biennale in Ballarat, Victoria, from Saturday 23 August to Sunday 19 October 2025.

16. The winner of the acquisitive first prize of $15,000 AUD (inc. gst if applicable) will be announced at the opening event of the exhibition.

17. All finalists must sign and return a confirmation of entry form that will be emailed to them when they are notified. If the artwork is for sale, additional information will also be requested.

18. The finalists must submit physical works for installation by 7 August 2025.

19. Finalist portraits selected for exhibition must comply with the following format rules:

• works must be submitted as finished, framed prints stable enough to ensure transport and installation (unframed works will not be accepted)
• D-rings must be attached to the reverse of the work and ready for hanging
• framed portraits must use acrylic glazing or Perspex only, not glass
• portraits must be no bigger than 80cm (h) x 80cm (w), including frame size
• multi-panel works are regarded as one work and must fit within the maximum dimensions (listed above), and include any specific installation instructions
• portraits must clearly bear the title of the work and name, address and telephone number of the entrant on the reverse of the work

20. The Ballarat International Foto Biennale will ask finalists to re-print, re-mat or re-frame work that we think is not suitable for display and to re-deliver it at their own expense.

21. Delivery must be made in person, by a nominated representative (such as a friend, relative or artist’s agent) or by a courier/freight company by the date notified to the artist. The work must be accompanied by printouts of the completed entry form. The organisers will NOT pay for any costs incurred in the delivery of any entry, including freight, customs duty or import tax.

22. Each finalist grants to the Ballarat International Foto Biennale, touring partners and sponsors a non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide and royalty-free licence to use his or her photograph for advertising and promotion of the Prize or the Ballarat International Foto Biennale in any form of media now known or yet to be devised, both from the date the finalists are announced and in future years. Entrants acknowledge and agree that the Ballarat International Foto Biennale is not liable to pay the finalists any fee, royalty or other form of remuneration for this right.

23. Finalists must arrange to have their work collected within the collection period of 20 to 24 October 2025. Finalists will be reminded by email regarding dates and times when they can collect their work. It is a condition of entry that finalists are willing to sign a “Confirmation of dispose of artwork” form authorising us to dispose of work that is not collected within the collection period.

24. The Ballarat International Foto Biennale reserves the right to exhibit or display finalists’ works at additional venues to be determined until 31 December 2027.

25. Artists are advised to insure their works against loss or damage during the 2025 Martin Kantor Portrait Prize competition period of travelling, handling, judging, exhibition and storage. All reasonable care will be taken with entries but the Ballarat International Foto Biennale takes no responsibility whatsoever for loss or damage however caused to any works submitted.

26. All entrants agree to receive information and updates about the Ballarat International Foto Biennale through their nominated email address.