Frequently Asked Questions: Zurich Young Portrait Prize 2023

The following are answers to some questions you might have about the Zurich Young Portrait Prize 2023.

Your portrait

What is a portrait?

A portrait is a representation of a person, made from any material e.g. a painting, drawing, collage, photograph, sculpture, audio or video.

How many entries can I submit?

Entry is limited to one portrait per artist.

Can I submit a portrait I did a few years ago?

No, you can submit a portrait that you made in the last 12 months.

Can I resubmit a portrait I entered last year?

No, your portrait must be made within the last 12 months.

If my portrait has won another award can I enter it?

Yes.

Do I have to be from Ireland to submit a portrait?

Entries are welcome from anyone between 0-18 years who is ordinarily resident in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland.

If I created my portrait as a commission, is it eligible?

No, commissioned portraits will not be accepted. 

[A commission is an artwork made in exchange for a sum of money paid by an individual or an institution.]

Are there any size restrictions?

The portrait must be of a size and medium that will fit in the Gallery. The Gallery has the right to exclude artworks that cannot be reasonably displayed due to their medium or size. Dimensions must be provided in the online entry form.

Is there a weight restriction?

Yes. The maximum weight is 40kg.

What portrait can I enter?

The portrait must be of someone you know.

Can I enter a self-portrait?

Yes.

Can I enter a portrait of my pet?

You are welcome to include your pet or any animal in the image as long as the main subject of the portrait is of a human.

Can I enter a portrait of a fictional/ imaginary figure?

No. Portraits of unidentified, unidentifiable, fictional or imaginary figures (whether living or historical) will not be accepted. Only a real person who you know personally (e.g. a family member, friend, teacher) can be the subject of your portrait. However, you can depict your portrait as imaginatively as you wish.

Can I enter a portrait of someone I know who is no longer living?

You can enter a portrait of someone you know who was living at the time of making the portrait.

Can I enter a diptych/triptych?

Yes.

[A diptych is an image created on two flat surfaces that are usually joined by a hinge. A triptych is an image created on three, flat surfaces that are usually joined by a hinge.]

Can I enter through my school?

Yes. You can enter through your school but all submissions will be judged on an individual basis.

What materials can I use?

Works in any material (including painting, drawing, collage, photography, video, sound, print, textiles, ceramics, sculpture etc.) will be accepted. The materials you use for your portrait must be non-perishables; no foods e.g. pasta, rice, flowers.

Is it necessary to have the consent of the sitter?

Yes. A sitter is a person who sits for a portrait. Entrants who have been successful in making the shortlist will need to provide consent from the sitter. This will be a signature of the sitter on a form that the Gallery will send to shortlisted entrants. If the sitter is 16 or under (or can otherwise not consent on their own behalf) the shortlisted entrant must provide the consent of the sitter’s parent/guardian.

 

Entry process

Where do I find the entry form?

Download the Zurich Young Portrait Prize entry form from the Gallery's website. LINK

What will you do with my personal information?

All personal data given will be held securely by the Gallery and will be used to administer your entry. It may be used for internal research/statistical purposes and media enquiries. 

Can I send in my application by post?

No. All submissions must be made via email as a Word document or PDF to [email protected]

What are the requirements for the images that I submit?

The image that you submit must be a clear image of your portrait only. It must be saved as a JPEG format. The file size must be 300DPI and must be no larger than 3MB. See good and bad examples of photos of artworks in the competition rules and guidelines.

How do I submit a video portrait?

Please share your video on the file-sharing service WeTransfer to [email protected] and use your own name as the title of the file you are sharing.

How do I submit an audio/sound portrait?

Please submit an MP3 or WAV file on the file-sharing service WeTransfer to [email protected] and use your own name as the title of the file you are sharing.

 

Important competition dates

When is the closing date?

The closing date for submissions is 10PM (Ireland time) 21 June 2023. No entries submitted after this date and time will be considered.

When does the judging happen?

The panel of judges will make their initial selection in late July 2023.

How does the judging process work?

All the digital images/files of portraits successfully entered will be viewed by a panel of judges. From these entries, the judges will draw up a longlist for a second round of judging. From that longlist they will select the final shortlist that will go on display at the Gallery on 2 December 2023. They will then choose the overall winner and the age category winners, having examined the artworks in the Gallery.

When will I hear if my portrait has been shortlisted for the exhibition?  

You will be notified by email in early August 2023.

Will I be informed if I have not been shortlisted?

Yes. You will be informed by email in early August 2023. The decisions of the judges are final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into in relation to such decisions.

If my work has been shortlisted when will I need to deliver it to the Gallery?

All shortlisted portraits must be delivered to the Gallery by appointment between Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 September 2023. All dates are subject to change.

When does the exhibition open?

The exhibition of shortlisted portraits will open at the National Gallery of Ireland on 2 December 2023.

When is the prize-giving ceremony?

The prize-giving ceremony will be held at the National Gallery of Ireland on 12 December 2023. All dates are subject to change.

When does the exhibition close?

The exhibition of shortlisted portraits will close on 10 March 2024.

 

The Zurich Young Portrait Prize is an inclusive art competition open to children and young people of all abilities from across the island of Ireland.

Glossary of terms:

• Portrait: a representation of a person made out of any material e.g. a painting, drawing, collage, photograph, sculpture, audio or video
• Entrant: a person who enters or takes part in something
• Sitter: a person who sits for a portrait
• Consent: permission for something to happen or agreement to do something
• Diptych: an image created on two flat surfaces, usually joined by hinges
• Triptych: an image created on three flat surfaces, usually joined by hinges
• Material: anything you use to make your portrait (e.g. paint, ink, crayon, collage, pencil, wire, wood)
• 2D: two-dimensional surface (e.g. a sheet of paper, card or wood, stretched canvas)
• 3D: three-dimensional object (e.g. a sculpture made of material such as wood, wire, steel)
• Video: a recording of moving visual images made digitally or on videotape
• Audio: sound that is recorded, transmitted, or reproduced
• MB: Megabyte. This is a multiple of units for digital information. A digital image size is measured in bytes
• DPI: Dots per inch. A measure of resolution used for printed text or images; the more dots per inch, the higher the resolution

An exhibition sponsored by Zurich Insurance plc, organised by the National Gallery of Ireland.