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Barnsley Civic are proud to announce the third annual Barnsley Young Photographers Award, in partnership with Photoworks.

Photoworks champions photography for everyone; commissioning new photography, producing exhibitions and publishing books. They are an international platform, global in reach, and have provided opportunities for artists and audiences since 1995.

The Barnsley Young Photographers Award is committed to the development of artists aged up to 30 years old, living in, studying in or working in Barnsley.

Categories & Themes

This year we have three categories:

  • Age 11 – 15
  • Age 16 – 21
  • Age 21 – 30 (graduates and emerging professionals)

In celebration of the recipients of the fifth edition of the Jerwood/Photoworks Awards, Roman Manfredi and Sayuri Ichida and its tour to Barnsley Civic in Spring 2026, the themes for this year’s Barnsley Young Photographers Award are:

  • My Heritage
  • My Identity

All submissions should respond to at least one of these themes.

Prizes

Prizes also include;

  • An hour-long on-line mentoring session with Photoworks experts (Age 21 – 30 Graduates and Emerging Professionals)
  • Photography book bundle from Barnsley Civic and Photoworks (all awarded artists)
  • All awarded artists will have a selection of their work showcased and exhibited at Barnsley Civic in Spring 2026.
  • All awarded artists will have a select work exhibited online via the Photoworks.Lab Instagram in Spring 2026.

How To Apply

Applicants must:

  • Submit still images only. These can be made up of one or more images, can be composite or collaged. Composite and collaged images must also be produced by the person submitting the work, and should not be found images.
  • Individuals and Collectives can apply and should be aged between 11-30 at the time of application.
  • Live, study or work in Barnsley
  • Work must have been produced between September 2024 and August 2025.

How to apply:

  • Please send up to ten examples of your work (1MB per file).
  • Please send an accompanying letter telling us about your creative practice (no more than 300 words). If writing or typing is a barrier to applying, we will accept a video or audio message from yourself, no longer than 5 minutes. We won’t take into account production values.
  • Please include your full name in the application and use the subject heading BARNSLEY YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHERS AWARD and send to jasonwhite@barnsleycivic.co.uk
  • We will accept entries from teachers, parents or guardians for anyone under the age of 18, or who are in school or further education.

Applications go live Friday 11th July and close Friday 24th October 2025.

Judging will take place early November, with awarded artists being notified early December.

Previous Awarded Artists: 2024

EMERGING PROFESSIONAL (open to ages 18–30)

  • First Place: Millie Bentley
  • Commended: Molly Treanor

STUDENT (open to those in Higher or Further Education, ages 16–30)

  • First Place: Ashton Alexander Knight
  • Commended: Jack Pearce

SCHOOL (open to young people aged 11–16 in secondary school, alternative provision, or home-schooled).

  • First Place: Mahala Christmas
  • Commended: Charlie Holt

Previous Awarded Artists: 2023

  • First Place: Devon Nettleton-Tate
  • Second Place: Millie Bentley
  • Third Place: Lucy Denny
  • Commended: Hollie Parks, Alana Rae, Sophie Adderley, Katy Shaw, Tom Bryson and Katie Booth.

We'd love to keep in touch!