Dust Publishing Prize 2024

Dust Publishing Prize is a photo book prize for unpublished works by photographic artists.

Overview

Dust Collective is involved in the publication process from start to finish. They make an edit of imagery, design the book, and bring it to press. Artists are in dialogue with them throughout the process. The artist’s intention for their work is always held at the highest regard. 

Edition sizes are typically around one hundred. Dust Collective aims to keep its carbon footprint at a minimum. Acknowledging that artists and publishers make things and use material, it is their goal to avoid unnecessary waste. Print sizes are small, and no expense or material is used unnecessarily. Though the print runs and distribution is on a small scale, artists who publish with Dust Collective receive a thoughtful, well-designed, and meaningful book at the end of this process.

Artists are encouraged to become familiar with the Dust Collective catalog to determine if your work would be an appropriate fit.

Practical Info

The prize is open to any artist, collaboration, collective, or group working in the medium of photography. In order to submit your work, email a compressed folder to emily@dustcollective.net including 20-40 images, an artist bio of max 150 words, a project statement of max 250 words, and a PDF or screenshot of the application fee payment confirmation.

One winner will receive a photo book designed, edited, printed, and published by Dust Collective, including distribution and promotion. The winner also receives a portion of personal copies of the book from the first print run.

About Dust Collective

In 2017, Emily Sheffer founded the publishing imprint, Dust Collective. Each Dust Collective book is skillfully designed, showing a close attention to material and detail, and, above all, embracing the beauty of the photographic image. Dust Collective is run from Emily’s home studio in New England.

The format and design of each book is used to emphasize the meaning of the work within. The materiality of each book is of great importance. The books Dust Collective publish are artworks that you touch, feel, and move. The feeling of the paper, pages, trim size, and act of unfolding, are all part of the experience of the book object. 

Dust Collective seeks out photographic projects that are thoughtful and ready for publication.