Cuenca Photography Contest and Exhibition
The municipality of Cuenca and UNESCO are organizing a photography contest and exhibition. Below you can read the English translation of the announcement on the UNESCO website:
CUENCA: 25 Years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Photography Contest and Exhibition
The Municipality of Cuenca and the UNESCO Office in Ecuador invite submissions for the “CUENCA: 25 Years as a World Heritage Site” Photography Contest and Exhibition.
Date: December 9, 2024
This initiative celebrates the 25th anniversary of Cuenca's inclusion on the World Heritage List, a recognition granted on December 1, 1999.
Key Dates
- Photo Submission Deadline: January 31, 2025
- Winners Announcement: February 15, 2025
- Photography Exhibition: March 1–31, 2025
- Exhibition Locations: High-traffic plazas and parks in Cuenca
Contest Guidelines
1. Theme
The contest’s theme, “CUENCA: 25 Years as a World Heritage Site,” invites amateur and professional photographers to capture the essence of Cuenca’s historic center and the Cajas Massif. Submissions should depict how residents interact with, celebrate, and take pride in their heritage, highlighting what makes these places unique.
2. Participants
Open to all individuals, regardless of nationality or age, who agree to the contest rules and accept the jury’s decisions. Categories include:
- Children: Up to 12 years old
- Teens: Up to 18 years old
- Youth: Up to 35 years old
- Adults: 36 years and older
3. Requirements
- Read and accept the contest rules outlined in this document.
- Submit photos via email to quito@unesco.org.
- Post the photo on social media, including a description of what makes Cuenca’s historic center or the Cajas special, using the hashtag #Cuenca25AñosPatrimonio and tagging @UNESCOQuito and @MunicipioDeCuenca.
- Any photographic technique is allowed; however:
- Altered images via collage, photomontage, or digital illustration are not permitted.
- AI-generated photos are not accepted.
- Basic photo retouching is allowed without altering the original content.
- Each participant may submit up to three original photographs with the following criteria:
a. Photos must be original and creative.
b. Submit each photo by email to quito@unesco.org.
c. Include the following with each submission:
- Photo description, full name, age, ID number, address, phone number, and email.
d. Photos must be in high quality, with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi, in JPEG, Photoshop EPS, or TIFF formats (RGB).
e. No watermark, date, or text (including photographer’s name) is allowed on the photo.
4. Deadline
- Photos must be submitted via email to quito@unesco.org by January 31, 2025. Submissions after this date will not be accepted.
Selection Process
- A jury designated by the organizers will select winners based on artistic quality, originality, and relevance to the theme.
- One winner and two finalists will be chosen for each category.
- Winning photos will be featured on UNESCO Ecuador and Cuenca Municipality’s social media platforms.
- Winners will be announced on February 15, 2025.
Disqualification Reasons:
1. Photos depicting violence, political content, or any form of discrimination (racist, sexist, xenophobic, etc.).
2. Plagiarism.
3. Submissions deemed of insufficient quality by the jury.
Prizes
- Winning photos will be printed in large format for outdoor exhibitions in prominent locations in Cuenca, with credit given to the authors.
- Featured in a commemorative book celebrating Cuenca’s 25th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Displayed publicly online, in social media, and at the exhibition, with the author credited.
- One overall winner will receive a special prize from the event sponsors.
- First, second, and third prizes will be awarded in each category, with special mentions if deemed appropriate.
Intellectual Property
Participants declare authorship of submitted works and grant UNESCO Quito unrestricted rights to reproduce, transform, publicly display, and distribute the photographs globally for cultural and artistic purposes. The author’s name will always be credited. Participants are responsible for ensuring their works do not infringe third-party rights.
The organizers commit to crediting the author each time their work is reproduced, adhering to copyright laws.
