Royal Haslar Photography Competition Proposal
Introduction
As part of community engagement and to assist with local media coverage it is proposed that Royal Haslar hold and photography competition, in conjunction with the Photography School of Portsmouth University.
Royal Haslar would be the subject focus of the competition, with RH retaining rights to use all submitted entry material for promotion of Royal Haslar in perpetuity – to include advertising and social media, but not for commercial gain.
The competition would run across an academic year, culminating in an exhibition and Awards ceremony. There is potential to recruit Portsmouth News as a media sponsor and to work with a local arts venue in Gosport, at which to host the exhibition and Awards.
Initial discussions with both Portsmouth University and Portsmouth News have shown both parties to be interested in such a collaboration, as Portsmouth News already engages with the University’s School of Journalism.
The event has the potential to become an annual activity and grow as Haslar grows.
1. Establish a Partnership:
The competition aims to foster a strong partnership between Royal Haslar and Portsmouth University, creating opportunities for collaboration and mutual benefit.
2. Professional Experience:
Provide aspiring photographers in the local area with valuable professional experience by allowing them to visit the Royal Haslar site and engage with a real-world photography project. This competition also provides journalism students with the opportunity to report on a local event and work alongside Portsmouth News.
3. Fresh Imagery:
Enable Royal Haslar to acquire fresh and captivating imagery of the development for use in promotional materials, social media platforms, and press releases.
4. Local Exposure:
Increase awareness and exposure of the Royal Haslar development within the local community through the exhibition and media coverage.
Portsmouth University would promote the competition through various channels such as student notification boards, posters, and lectures at the beginning of the new academic term in September/October.
Students would have a two-week window to register their interest, after which arrangements would be made for site visits: possibly across 3 different dates and times.
Entrants could then submit a single image or small portfolio consisting of five high-resolution photographs. The entrants are free to choose the composition and style that best represents their vision and creativity.
Submissions would be received and managed by the University in January/February. The University is also able to assist entrants with printing.
The competition will award prizes for 1st 2nd and 3rd place, funded in part or exclusively through sponsorship, potential from The London Camera Exchange, with which the University already has a connection.
First Prize: £2,000
Second Prize: £1,000
Third Prize: £500
Prizes would be announced at a reception, to be held at the agreed exhibition venue, following which the exhibition would be open to the general public.
Judging
Judging would be by panel, members of which would be invited by RH and the University. Judges would be required to select entries (number TBC) which would be exhibited and from which prize winners closed from 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize.
Exhibition and Awards
As wide a selection of submissions as possible would be exhibited (subject to confirmation) at the Imagination Refinery exhibition space on Gosport High Street. The Award Ceremony and Reception would mark the opening of the Exhibition for an agreed period.
Media Engagement
The Portsmouth News already has an existing relationship with the University and in principle would be open to covering the competition, from launch to Awards, with regular updates and would potentially be interested in opening coverage reporting to a Journalism student. Details would need to be refined.
Eligibility and Entry Requirements:
The competition would be open to all students within the Creative and Cultural Industries Faculty at Portsmouth University; however, the medium of submissions will be photography-based.