New collaboration between Somfy Netherlands and the Nederlands Fotomuseum

The Somfy Photography Award 2020 (SPA20) symbolises the impact of light

Partnership
Somfy Netherlands and the Nederlands Fotomuseum are working closely together for the second edition of the Somfy Photography Award. The activities of both the Nederlands Fotomuseum and Somfy Netherlands are focused on the effects of light and how to make the most of them. The SPA20 is a symbolic illustration of their connection. The two organisations signed an agreement to seal their partnership.

Somfy Photography Award
The SPA is a biennial international photography prize that focuses on a theme, which is used to express the contribution that Somfy Netherlands makes to people’s comfort and wellbeing in an inspiring and creative way. The Nederlands Fotomuseum is partnering with the Somfy Photography Award for SPA20 to make an additional contribution to the development of photography in the Netherlands. International photographers will create new work inspired by the theme ‘Gimme shelter’ and compete to win a prize of 15,000 euros.

The selection committee and jury are led by Frits Gierstberg (curator, Nederlands Fotomuseum). On 2 October 2020 the international professional jury will announce the winner and the runner-up. The announcement will be made at the Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam, where the work created by the nominees will be displayed in the exhibition “Somfy Photography Award 2020: ‘Gimme shelter'”.

Theme: ‘Gimme shelter’
The theme of the Somfy Photography Award 2020 is ‘Gimme shelter’: ‘Shelter’ is an overarching, all-encompassing basic need of people and animals: protection, shelter, safety and comfort. ‘Shelter’ is manifested not only in factories, offices, schools, houses and hospitals, but also in the cardboard box of the homeless person, the embrace of lovers, the mother who cherishes her child. Comfort, wellbeing and sustainability are the three most important qualities that Somfy realises in buildings. They express the most important basic needs in the Maslow pyramid.

“Somfy creates innovative, technical products that regulate all aspects of solar and light management, contributing to the comfort and wellbeing of building users without most of them being aware of it. People are central to the development, production and application of our technology. We want to express this in the form of original and striking photographic images, and express it to the users of our technology in an inspiring way. With the creation of the Somfy Photography Award we have devised and initiated an international photography platform, and the collaboration with the Nederlands Fotomuseum will enable us to realise an optimal result.”

About Somfy
For more than 50 years Somfy has been creating smart home and building management solutions, making everyday life easier and more enjoyable for millions of users around the world. These innovations are aimed at automating and interconnecting roller shutters, solar shading, window decoration and curtains, gates and garage doors, heating, lighting, cameras and alarm systems. Every day Somfy works to develop reliable, environmentally-friendly solutions so that everyone is able to live more comfortably, safely and sustainably, both today and tomorrow.

More information on the SPA: www.Somfyphotographyaward.com
More information on Somfy: www.Somfy.nl or www.Somfy.be

About the Nederlands Fotomuseum
We safeguard the Netherlands’ current and future photographic heritage and make it relevant to today’s international context. In doing so, we exhibit photography that reflects the world we live in and share it with society in order to enrich people’s lives with visual stories that matter. We also bring the photography of the past to the present, in order to understand the present and conquer the future.

The Nederlands Fotomuseum is grateful for the support of:
Corporate partners:
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science | Municipality of Rotterdam | BankGiro Loterij | Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds | Wertheimer Fonds

Corporate partner Somfy Photography Award:
Somfy Netherlands

Corporate Partner Collection:
Nationale-Nederlanden

Nederlands Fotomuseum Opening hours
Wilhelminakade 332 Tuesday to Sunday 11am-5pm
3072 AR Rotterdam
www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl

Note for editors
For images and more information about the exhibition, please contact
Annemarie van den Eijkel | 06-42216272 | avandeneijkel@nederlandsfotomuseum.nl

Nederlands Fotomuseum: visual stories that matter
We safeguard the Netherlands’ current and future photographic heritage and make it relevant to today’s international context. In doing so, we exhibit photography that reflects the world we live in and share it with society in order to enrich people’s lives with visual stories that matter. We also bring the photography of the past to the present, in order to understand the present and conquer the future.