Global Courant 2023-05-30 21:57:32
African Women on Board (AWB) in collaboration with Africa Soft Power (ASP) has launched a Climate Photo Essay Prize, aimed at young people aged 18-30 from the continent or from the global diaspora community. Leading art world figures have been appointed to judge the competition, and finalists will exhibit their work in leading galleries in New York, London and Lagos.
The price is backed by change.org, ClimateWorks Foundation and law firm, Templars. Admission is free and participants do not have to be a professional photographer or artist at the time of entry. Entrants simply need to submit 3-5 photos from their environment that tell a cohesive story about the main theme of environmental change.
The price is part of a broaderTowards 100 million climate soldiers in Africacampaign currently led by African Women on Board and is designed to educate and empower young people living on the frontline of the fight against climate change. The competition will remain open until Friday, September 9e June, and those who want to participate can find more information here.
“Climate is THE major intersection challenge of the day and has increasing implications for broader issues such as health, society, geopolitics, economics, security and equality as its impact grows,” said Nkiru Balonwu, founder and CEO of the Africa Soft Power Group.
“Africa has long been disproportionately affected by the effects of climate change and by 2050, 25% of the world’s population will live on the continent. It is therefore imperative that today’s young people become tomorrow’s climate soldiers, protecting the planet on the environmental frontline. We are excited to see the creative effort that will come back to us through this competition, and the exhibitions that will be staged around the world as a result.
Global spotlight on a global problem
Leading galleries have joined as partners to host a series of international exhibitions on the work of Climate Photo Essay Prize finalists. They are:
The Africa Center, New Yorkat the UN General Assembly, September 2023
The Africa Centre, London, during the Frisian week, October 2023
A special Africa Soft Power display in Lagos, Nigeriaduring ART X Lagos, November 2023
“The Africa Center is honored to be the inaugural host of this series of exciting international exhibitions for the winners of Africa Soft Power’s Photo Essay Prize, especially as world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly,” said Uzodinma Iweala, Chief Executive Officer, The Africa Center, New York. “Through our partnership with Africa Soft Power, we aim to highlight the urgent need for climate action in Africa that will have impacts around the world, and amplify the voices of the talented photographers who have captured the beauty, challenges and resilience of communities. in which they live all over the continent. This partnership speaks to the spirit of collaboration that is fundamental to The Africa Centre’s mission.”
Oba Nsugbe, Chairman of the Board, The Africa Centre, London, added: “The Photo Essay Prize exhibition at the Africa Centre, London demonstrates the power of art to inspire us all. At a time when conversations about climate change are more urgent than ever, it presents an important opportunity to stimulate meaningful discussions that cross borders and raise the voice of creatives from Africa and the global diaspora community. This exhibition is an exciting moment in our budding relationship with Africa Soft Power.”
Leading figures of the art world
A total of three judges have been appointed to determine who will be the successful finalists:
Julie Krooks
Julie is the curator of Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora at the Art Gallery of Ontario. She holds a PhD from the Department of Art History and Archeology at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, UK. Since joining the AGO in 2017, she has curated a number of important exhibitions, including ‘Free Black North’ (2017), ‘Mickalene Thomas: Femmes Noires’ (2018) and presentations from the permanent collection such as ‘Photography, 1920s–1940s: Women in Focus’ (2019-2020) and ‘Fragments of Epic Memory’ (2021-22).
Kenneth Montague
Dr. Kenneth Montague is a Toronto-based dentist, art collector and founder of Wedge Curatorial Projects, a non-profit arts organization. Montague served on the Tate Modern’s African Art Acquisition Committee and on the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Photography Curatorial Committee. He is currently an AGO trustee and advisor to the Department of Arts of Global Africa and the Diaspora. He is also a trustee of the Aperture Foundation and a member of the jury of the Scotiabank Photography Award, Canada’s largest photography award.
Renee Mussai
The former Senior Curator at Autograph, Mussai is the Artistic Director of The Walther Collection, a New York-based art foundation. Since 2009 she has organized numerous solo and group exhibitions internationally and has published extensively on photography, visual culture and curatorial activism, including works such as ‘Lina Iris Viktor: Some are born in endless night – dark matter’ (2020); ‘Care, Contagion, Community – Self and Other’ (2021) and the forthcoming ‘Eyes That Commit’ (Prestel, 2023) and the sequel to Zanele Muholi’s critically acclaimed ‘Somnyama Ngonyama’ (Aperture, 2023).
About African women on board (AWB)
African Women on Board (AWB) is a non-profit organization dedicated to reshaping the future of African women and girls by changing stories and impacting reality. It is part of the wider Africa Soft Power Group (ASP) of companies, committed to leveraging Africa’s creative and innovative sectors to generate economic growth on the continent and around the world. More information can be found here.
