Call Description

Since 1970, Alaska Positive has encouraged photography as an art form in Alaska. Now in its 55th year, this juried photography exhibition highlights the role of Alaskan photographers in today's visual culture.  Its purpose is to encourage the practice of photography as an art form in Alaska. The exhibition will open in Juneau on December 5, 2025 and close on March 14, 2026. The exhibition will then travel to museums throughout Alaska.

JUROR: PATRICE APHRODITE HELMAR

Helmar is a photographer and artist engaged in the poetics of lived experience and everyday life. Their multidisciplinary work is concerned with issues of labor, class, queerness, and the politics of representation.

Helmar was born in Juneau and grew up working in their father’s small-town camera shop and darkroom. Their work has been shown at PARTICIPANT INC, the Jewish Museum, Ortega Y Gasset Projects, Gaa Gallery, the National Museum of Iceland, and other spaces.

They received an MAT from the University of Alaska Southeast in 2013 and an MFA in Visual Art from Columbia University in 2015. They studied at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 2022 and received a 2025 MacDowell Fellowship. Helmer is a Lecturer on Art, Film, and Visual Studies at Harvard University and Columbia University's Visual Arts MFA program. They live and work in Juneau and New York City.

SCHEDULE SUMMARY:

• SEPTEMBER 8, 2025 – Call-for-entry for Alaska Positive 2025 opens on CaFÉ, callforentry.org
• OCTOBER 17, 2025 – All digital submissions for initial selection are due on CaFÉ by 9:59 PM Alaska Time.
• NOVEMBER 21, 2025 – Juror-selected submissions are due, matted and exhibit-ready. Deadline for receipt is 4:00pm, at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau.
• NOVEMBER 25, 2025 – Lecture by juror Patrice Aphrodite Helmar at the Alaska State Museum.
• DECEMBER 5, 2025 – Exhibit opens at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau and runs through March 7, 2026.
• EXHIBITION TRAVELS to museums throughout Alaska, schedule to be determined.

AWARDS

There will be a Juror's Choice Award and two Awards of Recognition. The awards are sponsored by the Friends of the State Library, Archives, and Museum. The juror may also select a number of photographs for Honorable Mention.

Application Requirements

INITIAL SUBMISSION - DIGITAL CHECKLIST

1. Each person may enter up to four photographic works.
2. List of acceptable upload-ready file formats can be found on the CaFÉ Media Help page.
3. Upload an ENTRY IDENTIFICATION document that lists the required information for each entry submitted. Instructions are included in the application.
4. Pay the $25 application fee to CaFÉ.

JUROR SELECTION

The juror’s selection for Alaska Positive will be completed in a two-step process: the initial selection will be made from digital entries, and the final selection from exhibition ready artwork onsite at the Alaska State Museum.

Artists whose work is selected from the initial judging will be notified and will need to submit exhibition-ready (matted with white or off-white acid-free matboard) photographs for final judging. Artists will be sent instructions for labeling their work. Please do not send framed work for final review.

FINAL SUBMISSION - MATTED ART

1. Artwork that is selected from the digital submissions for the final judging should be delivered by 4:00 pm on November 21, 2025. Photographs can be delivered in two ways: Mail to: Alaska Positive 2025, Alaska State Museum, P.O. Box 110571, Juneau, Alaska, 99811 or Hand-deliver to: First floor, front desk at the Alaska State Museum, 395 Whittier St., Juneau, Alaska
2. Artwork that is selected for final judging must be matted with white or off-white acid-free matboard. The Museum will frame selected works. Please do not send framed work for final review.
3. Artists must attach identification labels to the back of their work. Instructions for labeling will be sent to artists when they are notified of selection for final submission.
4. All mailed entries must be properly packaged in a reusable container.
5. Entries accepted for the statewide traveling exhibit will be returned (postage-paid by the museum) following the statewide tour, 2026-2027. Unaccepted entries will be returned by mail (postage-paid by the museum) or may be picked up in Juneau.
6. Undeliverable entries returned to the Alaska State Museum or hand delivered entries that have not been picked up within one year of the exhibit's closure will be dealt with at the discretion of the Alaska State Museum.

The Alaska State Museum wishes to thank the Friends of SLAM for its continued support of Alaska Positive and for sponsoring this year's Juror's Choice and Recognition Awards.

Eligibility Criteria

ELIGIBILITY: The competition is open to residents of Alaska 18 years of age or older. Only photographs not shown in previous statewide juried competitions are eligible. Any work that makes use of photographic processes is eligible. A.I.-generated photographic images are not accepted. All work must be original and completed within the last three years. Entries may only be submitted by the artist.