AuthentiCity - Revealing Purity and Authenticity in Urban Life

illy issimo (Ilko Coffee International) and the MFA Photography, Video and Related Media Department at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) announce AuthentiCity – Revealing Purity and Authenticity in Urban Life – a photography contest for SVA's photography students and alumni. This contest aims to find talented emerging photographers whose unique vision documents the dynamic nature of contemporary urban life.

The contest proceeds in three stages: An open call for images addressing the theme of 'authenticity in urban life,' with approximately 30+ selected images exhibited digitally in Milan at the Salone Internazionale del Mobile (Milan Design Week) in April 2010. Five semi-finalists will be selected to receive a $3,000 commission to complete a body of work over the summer. A selection of the finalists' work will be exhibited in New York City in fall 2010 (venue and date TBA). One finalist will be selected based on completed work and will receive a $10,000 commission from Ilko Coffee International/illy issimo.

Eligibility is limited to SVA photography students and alumni from the MFA Photo, Video and Related Media Department, BFA Photography Department, and MPS Digital Photography Department. Entrants may not have had a solo show, gallery representation, or advertising campaign. Applicants may submit only one entry. Images must loosely fit the theme of 'authenticity in the city' with no date limitations on when the work was created. Entry fee: None. Selection will be made by Carlo Bach (Artistic Director of illycaffè), Ilaria Presotto (International Marketing Director of Ilko), Elisabeth Biondi (Picture Editor, The New Yorker), Charles Traub (Chair of SVA's MFA Photography, Video and Related Media), and Silvio Wolf (artist and MFA Photography, Video and Related Media faculty).