UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest 2025

The annual “Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads” International Photo Contest offers an exciting opportunity for young people from all over the world to capture their understanding of the shared heritage of the Silk Roads through the lens of their camera. As the visual arts, and in particular photography, are so often used by today’s youth as a powerful tool for communication and self-expression, images have the potential to play a significant role in raising awareness of the key issues facing our contemporary world and help promote peace and understanding. The photo contest provides an opportunity for young people to connect with one another in a digital space and share their creativity and vision for our future.

The Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest is an opportunity for young people who live or have traveled within these regions to share their perceptions and further their understanding of the common cultural heritage and pluralistic identities emerging from the interactions and exchanges taking place along the Silk Roads. The contest encourages the use of photography to extend these cultural interactions and encounters in the contemporary world, to foster mutual understanding and to promote peace amongst the diverse populations encompassed by the Silk Roads.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: June 20, 2025
2. Type: Contest
3. Sponsor: United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
4. Eligible Country: All Countries

Eligibility Criteria for UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest 2025

Age categories and theme:

The contest is divided into two age categories: 14–17 year olds and 18–25 year olds. For the 7th edition of the contest this year, participants are invited to submit their photographs that best encapsulate the shared heritage of the Silk Roads, the theme of “Women, Guardians of Silk Roads Heritage.” The Selection Committee members will then examine these submissions and select the winners from each of the age categories.

Benefits of UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest 2025

1. First-place winners will receive a professional camera.
2. Second-place winners will receive a semi-professional camera, and the prize for third place will be a standard-model digital camera.
3. Around 60 of the best photos from the contest will appear in a professional photo album entitled “Youth Lens on the Silk Roads” and might be showcased in exhibitions held worldwide.

How to Apply

All queries must be directed to: Silkroadsphotocontest@unesco.org

For more details, visit UNESCO contest webpage

Application Deadline

June 20, 2025

Application Link(s)

• Apply for UNESCO Youth Eyes on the Silk Roads Photo Contest 2025