With the deadline for entries at midnight on Tuesday, March 31, the organisers are calling on all primary schools in Ireland to take part in the national children’s photography competition.
INSPA aims to introduce creative well-being into the lives of primary schools by engaging with the magic and art of photography, they said.
They described this year’s theme, “Landscapes and Legends”, as a “playful invitation for primary school communities to see Ireland not just as a place, but as a storybook full of mystery, beauty and imagination”.
Landscapes and Legends. Photo: INSPA
Examples given by the INSPA include a “tree that might be hiding a fairy world”, “a field that looks like a sleeping giant’s bed, a “cliff where sea and sky meet like something from a myth”, and “just a moment of beauty that sparks joy, calm, or curiosity”.
“This theme is not just about taking pictures; it’s about seeing the world differently,” a spokesperson for the competition added.
The organisers have described the theme as “flexible” and “inclusive”, encouraging every child in Ireland to find their voice and view the world through a creative and mindful lens.
This year, the awards offer a range of prizes for the whole school, including a behind-the-scenes tour of Butlers Chocolate Factory for the winning class, a range of Instax cameras and accessory kits for pupils and schools, framed photographs and certificates, and an INSPA positive primaries flag.
All entries will be judged by a national panel of judges, including INTO president Anne Horan, National Gallery of Ireland’s Zurich portrait prize winner David Booth, president of IPPN Deirdre Kelly, communicator and educator Melanie Lynch, chairperson of the ESCI Ultan Mac Mathúna, and INSPA head judge Richard Carr.
Landscapes and Legends. Photo: INSPA
“In whatever way you choose to respond to this year’s theme, be creative, take lots of photos and most importantly, have fun,” a spokesperson said.
“INSPA look forward to seeing all the great work your children’s photo clubs get up to, and of course, your schools’ final entries,” they added.
To take part in the competitions, schools are asked to register at the INSPA’s website as soon as possible.
The INSPA also offers free creative well-being activities to help schools, for which they can also register through the website.