The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to encourage their students to participate in the third edition of the ‘Silk Roads Photo Contest’ organised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Prof Rajnish Jain, the UGC Secretary, wrote to Vice-Chancellors of Universities, Principals, Directors of Colleges and Institutes, stressing students’ participation in the contest. “You are requested to give extensive exposure to the photo contest to encourage aspiring young student photographers to participate in the contest.”
The deadline for submitting entries was August 24 which is now extended to August 31, according to information on the contest’s official website.
The link to the photo contest is available at the official UNESCO site: unescosilkroadphotocontest.org.
“The contest will culminate with an award ceremony, with three winners selected from each age category. First place winners will receive a professional camera. Second place winners will receive a semi-professional camera, and the prize for third place will be a standard-model digital camera. Subject to Covid-19 restrictions, winners will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the award ceremony….” UNESCO said.
About the contest:
The contest is divided into two age groups – 14 to 17 years, and 18 to 25 years – the winners will be announced separately for each group. The third edition of the UNESCO international photo contest – Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads – is on two themes: Textiles and Clothing, and Intercultural Exchanges in the Time of COVID-19 including in the Field of Textiles and Clothing. The deadline for submitting the entries is August 31.
The annual Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads International Photo Contest offers an exciting opportunity for young people from all over the world to capture their understanding of the shared heritage of the Silk Roads through the lens of their camera. As the visual arts, and in particular photography, are so often used by today’s youth as a powerful tool for communication and self-expression, images have the potential to play a significant role in raising awareness of the key issues facing our contemporary globalizing world. This year in particular, at a time where many educational and cultural institutions have been temporarily closed, the photo contest provides an opportunity for young people to connect in a digital space and share their creativity and vision for our post-pandemic world. Many hubs of social activity and human interaction, including schools, have been adversely affected by Covid-19, in light of these disruptions UNESCO is endeavouring to support remote learning, educational access, and youth engagement with culture, through its many initiatives.
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