NEWS / THE SPIRT LEVEL: IMAGES OF [IN]EQUALITY

The Spirt Level: images of [in]equality

04th April 2011

 

The Equality Trust have launched an exciting new photography exhibition ‘The Spirt Level: Images of [in]equality’ and are looking for photographic representation of income inequality and equality which inspire, communicate and demand attention.

The competition is based on the best-selling book The Spirit Level, published in 2009, which brought wider public attention to compelling new evidence that the large gap between rich and poor in society damages the social fabric and the quality of life for everyone – rich and poor alike. The Equality Trust was set up in conjunction with the book’s publication to spread this message and to campaign to halve the current levels of income inequality in the UK.

Unfortunately, there are images of income inequality all around us. Many striking entries are anticipated that will capture the destructive nature of income disparities in our society, however The Equality Trust are also looking for positive representations of what a more equal society might look like – photos that can motivate through their positivity, galvanising people to action. Above all else, images that conceptualise [in]equality in a new way will be looked for, to provoke thought and debate in fresh and interesting ways.

A couple more points about The Spirit Level and the theme:

The Equality Trust campaign on the gap between rich and poor so they are looking for images of income [in]equality, rather than poverty or (for example) race, gender or sexual [in]equality, although of course these inequalities often overlap and can influence each other.

The evidence presented in the The Spirit Level is based on inequality within richer countries such as the UK, rather than developing countries. They are not, therefore, looking for photographs of international inequalities or international poverty.

1. The closing date to enter is 12noon on 15th April 2011. All entries are submitted through ‘The Spirt Level: images of [in]equality photo competition Flickr group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/images_of_inequality

The competition will be judged by professional photographers Mark Burton and Jeff Hubbard and The Spirit Level authors Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson. Entries are welcomed from professional photographers, photography students and amateurs of all levels of experience.

For further details and conditions of submission please visit http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/community/photo-contest