Canon MJ
Started the audition “GRAPHGATE” to discover the next generation of photographers and videographers
We support new artists who challenge the possibilities of expression in a wide range of genres.
Canon Marketing Japan Inc. (President: Masachika Adachi, hereinafter Canon MJ) has been a gateway to success for young photographers for 30 years. Continuing the purpose of discovering, nurturing and supporting photographers, we will start a new photo / video artist discovery audition “GRAPHGATE”. The first application for this audition will start on April 3, 2023.
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GRAPHGATE logo
For more than half a century, Canon has supported photographers and filmmakers in a variety of ways. The New Cosmos of Photography*1, a cultural support activity sponsored by Canon Inc. that has produced many famous photographers, has closed its call for entries in fiscal 2021, the milestone of its 30th anniversary. In addition, until 2019, we have been working on discovering new artists at the photographer audition “SHINES * 2” sponsored by Canon MJ. What these two
initiatives have in common is the goal of discovering, nurturing, and supporting new artists who challenge the possibilities of photographic and video expression. Canon MJ will start the photo / video artist discovery audition “GRAPHGATE” from April 2023 as a new framework for continuously finding and supporting new talents with enthusiasm. Through “GRAPHGATE,” we will continue to contribute to the development of photography and video culture.
(*1) A cultural support activity sponsored by Canon Inc. aimed at discovering, nurturing, and supporting new photographers. The call for applications will end in 2021 (the 44th call for applications). The total number of applicants so far has reached 35,550.
(*2) A photographer audition sponsored by Canon MJ, which is characterized by providing the winners with the opportunity to create and sell photobooks. With the start of GRAPHGATE, the call for applications for 2019 will end.
Overview of the audition “GRAPHGATE” to discover photo and video artists “GRAPHGATE” will accept works in four categories: “People”, “Nature”, “Creative” and “Movie”. We are looking for photographic works in the “People”, “Nature” and “Creative” categories, and video works in the “Movie” category. One of the five people who passed the first and second selection will be selected as the Grand Prix, and the winners will receive equipment support from Canon MJ and Canon Gallery S (Shinagawa) and Canon Gallery (Ginza/Osaka). It provides an
opportunity to present your work. Applicants’ age and experience (professional/amateur) do not matter. The five members of the selection committee are people who are active in various genres, including curators, video producers, art directors, journalists, and publisher chief producers. In addition to the quality of the work, we will comprehensively select the applicants based on their own unique perspectives, including their ability to communicate, their ability to take action, their passion, and their future prospects.
-Application requirements-
1. Application method and selection process
・ Application period: April 3, 2023 (Monday) to June 30, 2023 (Friday) scheduled Applications will be accepted from the GRAPHGATE website. Entry is completed by filling in the application form with your creative activities and future plans, and submitting the data of your work. ・Primary selection (data review)
The first selection will be a review of the submitted work data, and the candidates who will proceed to the second selection will be selected.
・Second screening (presentation screening) Scheduled for September 2023 Candidates who pass the first selection will submit a portfolio and make a presentation by the artist himself. Each selection committee will select one person, and a maximum of five people in total will be selected as the award for excellence regardless of the category. (If there are duplicate recommendations, no additional selection will be made.)
・GRAPHGATE exhibition (exhibition of works)
The works selected in the secondary screening and the portfolios of honorable mention winners will be exhibited at the Canon MJ
Headquarters Gallery (Minato, Tokyo).
・ Grand Prix selection meeting (exhibition & presentation screening) Scheduled for the end of November 2023
Candidates who have passed the secondary selection (winners of the Excellence Award) will exhibit their work at the above-mentioned GRAPHGATE exhibition and give a presentation. Canon MJ will decide one Grand Prix winner after comprehensively judging these and based on the results of discussions by the selection committee. The Grand Prix Selection will be open to the public at Canon MJ Headquarters (Minato, Tokyo).
Please see the following website for details such as the selection schedule and notes.
canon.jp/graphgate
2. Eligibility
・You can apply regardless of age or experience (professional or amateur). ・We do not accept applications from groups, organizations, corporations, etc. ・Limited to those who can participate in the second selection and the Grand Prix selection meeting held at the Canon MJ head office (Minato, Tokyo) if they pass the first selection.
3. Application fee
There is no application fee.
4. Selection Committee
Yuki Kajikawa (Curator/Kahitsukan/Kyoto Museum of Contemporary Art) Kazuharu Shinagawa (Video Producer/Representative of Toboggan Co., Ltd.) Tetsuya Chihara (Art Director / Representative of Lemon Life Co., Ltd.) Tomoko Nagano (caster/journalist)
Mina Fujimori (Chief Producer / Bungeishunju “Sports Graphic Number”) Canon Marketing Japan Inc.
5. Grand Prix Announcement
The Grand Prix will be announced at the Grand Prix Selection Meeting at the end of November 2023.
6. Supplementary prize
Grand Prix (1 person)
・Prize money 1,000,000 yen
・Exhibition rights at Canon Gallery S (Shinagawa) (approx. 1 month) ・Support for shooting equipment such as cameras and lenses (3 years) ・Inkjet printer presentation
・Technical support by Canon MJ (consultation support for general shooting activities)
Excellence Award (4 people)
・ Prize money 300,000 yen
・Exhibition rights at the Canon Gallery (Ginza and Osaka) (1 week each) ・Support for shooting equipment such as cameras and lenses (3 years) ・Inkjet printer presentation
・Technical support by Canon MJ (consultation support for general shooting activities)
Honorable mention (10 people planned)
・ Prize money 50,000 yen
・Inkjet printer presentation
・Technical support by Canon MJ (consultation support for equipment and overall shooting activities)
Photo / video artist discovery audition GRAPHGATE homepage
Please see the following website for details regarding application and selection.
canon.jp/graphgate
Details about this release:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000899.000013943.html
