Third Place: Sacred Places Serving Their Neighborhoods
- Deadline: 15 October 2025
- Website: https://sacredphotocontest.untapinnovate.com/programs/2025-photo-contest#block-about
Partners for Sacred Places is dedicated to the sound stewardship and active community use of older sacred places across America. To recognize the enormous wealth of vibrant community-serving sacred places in America, Partners is sponsoring a photo contest with the theme “Third Place: Sacred Places Serving Their Neighborhoods.”
There are four categories: The Arts; Education and Service; Open Space; and Community Events. Entrants may submit up to ten nominations, in any combination of categories.
Categories
The Arts
Sacred places are homes for the arts, both religious and non-religious, and often serve as neighborhood galleries or performance venues. Photos in this category should capture liturgical art, visual art, concerts, theater, or dance in religious properties.
Education and Service
Photos in this category should capture education and community service activities housed in religious properties, serving children, seniors, the homeless and hungry, immigrants, ex-offenders, or others in need.
Open Space
Photos in this category should capture the impact of sacred places as local landmarks and home to a variety of interior and exterior spaces, including both sanctuaries and other types of space, such as courtyards, playgrounds, cemeteries, and gardens.
Community Events
Religious properties are gathering places for events and celebrations in their neighborhoods. Photos in this category should capture events on religious properties, ranging from worship services to other types of events such as town halls, fish fries, carnivals, and club meetings.
Background
We are holding a national photo contest to shine a light on historic churches, synagogues, meetinghouses, and mosques as civic spaces in their neighborhoods! The theme is “Third Place: Sacred Places Serving Their Neighborhoods.” Amateurs and professionals alike can enter up to 10 photos, with captions, beginning Aug. 15. The contest closes Oct. 15. Entries will be judged on the quality of the photo, description, and caption as they relate to the contest theme. We can’t wait to see your work!
Fees:
Free
Prizes:
$200 prize for two winners in each category - The Arts, Education and Service, Open Space, and Community Events - one selected by the jury and one by the public.
A grand prize winner will receive an additional $300.
Eligibility:
Photo must fit the contest theme, been taken within the last 5 years, and be located on the property of a purpose-built religious building more than 50 years old. Entrants may be amateur or professional photographers. All submissions must be original work created solely by the entrant and have the subject's consent for entry. Entries will be judged on the quality of the photo, description, and caption as they relate to the contest theme. If any people appear in the photograph, the entrant is responsible for obtaining all releases necessary to share the photograph, and sharing those releases within 7 days upon request. Failure to provide releases will result in disqualification. By entering the contest, all entrants grant Partners for Sacred Places and designees non-exclusive license to reproduce, distribute, display and create derivative works of the entries (along with a name credit) in any media.
Copyrights & Usage Rights:
By entering the contest, all entrants grant Partners for Sacred Places and designees non-exclusive license to reproduce, distribute, display and create derivative works of the entries (along with a name credit) in any media.
Theme:
Architecture Culture Documentary People Multi-categories Photojournalism