Homecoming 2022 & 2023 Biennial - Student Call for Entry

 What will you do with a lens-based art degree? What will you do once you graduate with such a degree? Will you ever find a job as an artist? Why spend all that money to learn art?

These types of questions follow many of us who have chosen the path of art as a passion and career. As students, there is safety within the academic bubble of freedom and self-discovery, and when you graduate, you spread your wings and fly alone for the first time. It can be challenging and scary; it means hard work and perseverance, but it can also be rewarding and fulfilling. But who said you can’t get some help along the way?

Booksmart Studio, in collaboration with Float Photo, are launching a new photographic publication and FREE call for entry for the printed publication  Homecoming 2022 & 2023 Biennial, sponsored by FUJIFILM, dedicated to graduating photography students from around the world, all current senior undergraduate art students, current second-year MFA students, and all graduates of the class of 2022 & 2023 are eligible to submit and participate. (We are including the previous year as an exception, as graduates of 2020 were cheated out of so many things.

Homecoming 2022 & 2023 Biennial will be a collection of a minimum of 100 artists working with photography or lens-based media, forming a collection of emerging talent that is this year's pool of creative minds that are on their first steps out of school in the U.S. and internationally. This photo publication will then be distributed to curators, editors, and other such established members of the photo community, as a book of discovery, putting a spotlight on fresh talent that they might have yet to cross paths with, bridging the gap and exposing new artists to a vast potential of opportunities.

In addition, we are pleased to announce our partnership with FujiFilm, who have donated GFX 100S Large Format Mirrorless Camera and a FUJINON GF32-64mmF4 R WR Lens ($8,300 ARV) for one lucky student. The camera will be given to a student who was chosen for the publication in a random name draw.

Selected students will also have their work exhibited at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) City Art Space Gallery, Rochester, NY, in a large group exhibition, having their work printed and mounted by FujiFilm at no cost to the selected students. The exhibition will be held in December, and a free weekend-long series of professional development workshops will take place on RIT’s main campus, all sponsored by FujiFilm.

Everyone who submits, regardless of if they are chosen for the publication and show, will be included in a large, free, and downloadable PDF that will be hosted on our website and available for all to see and explore.

With an open theme and no entry fee, we hope this call for entry will offer people from all walks of life an equal opportunity for substantial exposure. It does not matter what you come with or from; as long as you are a current graduating senior undergraduate art student, a current second-year MFA student, or a graduate of the class of 2022 & 2023* - you are invited to submit. 

Homecoming 2022 & 2023 Biennial call for entry period runs from May 4th to September 1st, 2023.
(* all accepted artists will have to provide proof of their student status at the time of submission.)

The Breakdown

1. Homecoming 2022 & 2023 Biennial will be a printed publication of a minimum of 100 artists working with photography or lens-based media. This photo publication will then be distributed to curators, editors, and other such established members of the photo community.

2. Selected students will have their work exhibited at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) City Art Space Gallery, Rochester, NY, in a large group exhibition, having their work printed and mounted by FujiFilm at no cost to the selected students.

3. FujiFilm North America, has donated GFX 100S Large Format Mirrorless Camera and a FUJINON GF32-64mmF4 R WR Lens (approx. $8,300 value) for one lucky student. The camera will be given to a student who was chosen for the publication and exhibition in a random lottery name draw at the gallery opening.

4. Everyone who submits, regardless of if they are chosen for the publication and show, will be included in a large, free, and downloadable PDF that will be hosted on our website and available for all to see and explore.

How to Submit

Submissions for Homecoming 2022 & 2023 Biennial open May 4th, 2023, and close September 1st, 2023.

1. This FREE call for entry is open only to current undergraduate & graduate lens-based students graduating in Academic years 2022 & 2023 (September 2021 - July 1st 2022 & September 2022 - July 1st 2023)

2. The applicant will need to submit the following information: 10 Image Files, Biography, Hometown, Artist Statement-250 Words, 5-10 Keywords, Website & Social Media, Institution Attended, and Proof of graduation (transcript or diploma.)

3. Please submit up to 10 images. Please format your images as TIF at 3300px in the shortest dimension. PDF's & Video files may also be submitted. For moving media & video files, please submit a PDF with a link to the work.

4. Please name all files using the following naming convention: FirstName_LastName_Image Number_Title.jpg. Submissions will be viewed based on the number order placed in the file name.

   • Ex: Eric_Kunsman_01_Self portrait.tif

5. Access the submission form via the submission button below.

6. Fill out the form and share your images in the linked Dropbox folder linked in the form.

Important Dates

• Submissions Open: May 4th, 2023

• Submission Deadline: September 1st, 2023

• Selected Artists notified: Mid to late September 2023

• Anticipated publication date: December 7th, 2023

• Anticipated exhibition opening and camera raffle: December 7th, 2023

• Anticipated free professional development workshops: December 8th-10th, 2023

Jurors?

You can read more about the jurors and sponsors on the About Us page here.

More details

You can find more details by visiting the FAQ page here.