Hold Still A Portrait of Our Nation 2020
Closing date for entries: Thursday 18 June 2020, 17.00 Closed
Spearheaded by The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of the National Portrait Gallery. Hold Still, a portrait of our nation in 2020, is an ambitious community project to create a unique photographic portrait that captures the nation’s spirit, mood, hopes, fears and feelings as we continue to deal with the Coronavirus outbreak.
Hold Still will capture a snapshot of the people of the UK at this time
Whilst many people’s lives are on hold to help protect our helpers and heroes, there are some that are working harder than ever and others that are enduring the upheaval of hardship and loss.
Nurse Aimée Goold sharing a photo of her face after a 13-hour shift treating coronavirus patients was an incredible awakening for many people at home. The suffering of the nursing staff to care for others was felt through this image.
Hold Still will capture a snapshot of the people of the UK at this time. Creating a collective portrait of our nation which will reflect resilience and bravery, humour and sadness, creativity and kindness, human tragedy and hope as we hold still for the good of others and celebrate those who have continued so, we can stay safe.
The Duchess and the National Portrait Gallery invited you to submit your own photo
The Duchess and the National Portrait Gallery have got together to invite you to submit your own photographic portrait, taken during these extraordinary times, which responds to one of the following themes:
- Helpers and Heroes
- Your New Normal
- Acts of Kindness
One hundred shortlisted portraits will feature in a virtual exhibition on the Gallery’s website, and a selection of images will also be shown across the UK later in the year.
Entry is completely FREE.
The project is completely free and open to all ages and abilities. Images must involve people and can be captured on phones or cameras. Each image will be assessed on its emotion and experience rather than its photographic quality or technical expertise. The closing date for submissions is 18 June 2020.
Don’t forget to share your images on social media #HoldStill2020
Temporary closure of the Gallery from 18 March
National Portrait Gallery, St Martin’s Place, London, WC2H 0HE
Switchboard: +44 (0) 20 7306 0055
This project is being supported by an International law firm
Taylor Wessing, a long-time sponsor of the National Portrait Gallery.
