About the Show

The Allegany National Photography Competition & Exhibition is one of the Allegany Arts Council's signature events, now entering its tenth anniversary year. Established in 2015, it began as a way to showcase photography talent in the region, but quickly grew into a nationally-recognized competition, and since has invited photographers from across the country, as well as an illustrious group of jurors, to take part.

Through its lifespan, the competition has drawn photographers from nearly every state, and has served as a model for other organizations seeking to develop programs of their own. It has raised the profile of a small Appalachian community and brought with it members from across the country, who support terrific art programs regardless of where they live.

The competition has always featured three categories, black and white (monochrome), color, and a third which has continued to evolve. In 2024, we will introduce Photography as a 3-D Art Form and are excited to see what creative photographers do with additional dimension.

For our 1oth anniversary, cash prizes are increasing to $7,500 and look for additional programs and social events. We will also be producing a limited-edition catalog featuring the winners of our previous contests, recollections of our jurors, and more information about the show.

The 10th Annual exhibition will run from March 30-April 20, 2024.

The Call

The call for entry is now closed - more than 800 entries were received in this year's competition with only 61 photographers juried into the show, representing the steep competition which takes place in the jurying process annually. In 2024, photographers from 21 states are represented.

Prizes

The 2024 program sees an increase in prizes awarded in several categories:

Best in Show:
$2500

Color:
First Place: $1000
Second Place: $500
Third Place: $250

Monochrome:
First Place: $1000
Second Place: $500
Third Place: $250

Photography as a 3-D Art Form:
First Place: $1000

People’s Choice:
$500