Contest Info and Categories

Partners for Sacred Places is celebrating 35 years dedicated to the sound stewardship and active community use of older sacred places across America. To mark this anniversary, and recognize the enormous wealth of beautiful, vibrant community-serving sacred places in America, Partners is sponsoring a photo contest with the theme: Sacred Places at the Heart of Communities. There are four categories: Spiritual Moments, Education and Service, Open Space, and Arts and Community Events. Entrants may submit up to ten nominations, in any combination of categories consisting of a photo and caption. Two nominations per category will be selected to receive a $500 award, a jury winner and an audience choice winner. The jury will recognize one of the winning nominations as the contest winner to receive an additional $500 award. Descriptions of each award category are below.
Spiritual Moments

Spiritual Moments

Religious properties were designed and built as places of worship. Photos in this category should capture the relationship between religious space and a spiritual experience.

Education and Service

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

Open Space

Photos in this category should capture the impact of sacred places as local landmarks and home to a variety of exterior spaces, including courtyards, playgrounds, cemeteries, and gardens.

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Arts and Community Events

Arts and Community Events

Religious properties are homes for art and music, and gathering places for events and celebrations. Photos in this category should capture arts or events in religious properties, including religious and non-religious art.

Contest Timeline

October 1, 2023 - Contest Opens

December 31, 2023 11:59pm ET - Submissions Due

May 1 - May 15, 2024 - Public Voting

May 20, 2024 - Winners notified

June 2024 - Awards distributed and publicized

Eligibility and Requirements



Photos must be in digital format, and must be taken at a 50+ year old purpose-built religious property in the United States within the last five years.

Entrants may be amateur or professional photographers

Entries will be judged on the quality of the photo, description, and caption as they relate to the contest theme.

All submissions must be original work created solely by the entrant and have the subject's consent for entry.

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.

Prizes and Recognition

8 Category Winners - $500 each - 1 selected by the jury and 1 by the public per category

1 Grand Prize Winner to receive an additional $500

Selected photos will be shared via Parnters Sacred Places' website and Instagram account

Jury Panel

Conrad Erb
Conrad Erb
Peter Woodall
Peter Woodall
Joseph E.B. Elliott
Joseph E.B. Elliott

Ready to apply?