2021/03/15     Dresden, Germany

Design: Muhan Liu/UNU-FLORES

Tying in with the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development 2021, UNU-FLORES and Technische Sammlungen Dresden jointly organise a photo and video storytelling competition on sustainability.

When discussing the Resource Nexus for sustainable development, we often tend to obsess ourselves with the natural and social sciences and neglect other less tangible aspects such as the creative aspects. In fact, creative industries – taking photography and videography as concrete examples – are critical when considered as media that have the ability to touch or move the very essence of our being, which make them powerful leverage for mobilising action.

Tying in with the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development 2021 as declared by the UN General Assembly, UNU-FLORES and Technische Sammlungen Dresden aim to mobilise professional and amateur photographers and videographers to advocate for the Resource Nexus and sustainability through a photo and video storytelling contest. Photographers and videographers of all levels are welcomed to submit photos and videos accompanied by their respective stories/descriptions that relate to the Resource Nexus and one or more of the following themes:

• Agriculture
• Forests
• Circular Economy
• Climate Change
• Biodiversity

That do one or both of the following:

• Showcase the impact of any of the above on the Resource Nexus or vice versa
• Showcase positive action for sustainable development

In addition to engaging a growing community of audiovisual storytellers, especially with increased digitalisation and access to handheld photo/videography globally, the contest aims to create a lasting impact by providing a platform for these sustainability stories to be told and amplified. A desired outcome of the activity is not just a heightened level of awareness of sustainability issues from the perspective of the respective themes, but also the mobilisation of civic action to do something for the planet.

Winning entries – with cash prizes worth up to 2,000 euros – will be judged based on their relevance to themes, originality and creativity, and inspirational power or potential social impact. They will be showcased in a physical exhibition at the Technische Sammlungen Dresden and a digital gallery and will also be used in UNU-FLORES publications.

View the call for entries