In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Teruel's mudéjar architecture being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Institute of Teruel Studies (IET) has announced a photography competition titled “Feeling the mudéjar in Teruel… today (21st century)”. The initiative is a collaboration with the Centre for Mudéjar Studies (CEM) and the Teruel Photographic Society (SFT), with support from the Teruel City Council, Ibercaja Foundation, and the Government of Aragon.
The announcement was made by Beatriz Martín, the first vice-president of the Provincial Council of Teruel (DPT) and delegate of the IET, during a presentation at the provincial institution's headquarters. She was joined by Inmaculada Plaza, the director of the IET; Carlos Méndez, the cultural councillor of Teruel City Council; and Pedro Blesa, the president of the SFT.
The competition aims to capture the essence of mudéjar architecture in modern-day Teruel. It is open to participants of any nationality or residence, with submissions accepted from 16 October until 15 December via email at ieturolenses@dpteruel.es.
“Our goal is to showcase the richness of our unique mudéjar heritage to the world through images that will be disseminated by the Institute of Teruel Studies,” said Martín.
Participants may submit a maximum of three colour photographs, each with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi, that reflect the significance of mudéjar architecture in Teruel and its province. The works must be original, taken between 2025 and 2026, and not previously awarded in any other photography competition.
Inmaculada Plaza emphasised the importance of raising awareness about the mudéjar concept, stating, “If we are aware of it, we will take care of it, and we want to leave a graphic testimony for the future.”
Carlos Méndez highlighted the competition's unique perspective, inviting participants to view mudéjar architecture through a new lens and to demonstrate its ongoing relevance in the 21st century. He noted that the competition is not limited to the city of Teruel, as there are also mudéjar monuments throughout the province.
The competition rules allow for complete freedom in technique and procedure, but photomontages and AI-generated images will not be accepted. Each participant must include the title of their photograph, its location, and their personal details in the body of the email. A code will be assigned to each submission to ensure anonymity during the evaluation process.
The jury will consist of six members: two representatives from the IET, two from the SFT, and two from the collaborating entities. The competition will award three cash prizes: €500 for the winner, €300 for second place, and €200 for third place. Each participant is eligible for only one prize.
In addition to the three winning photographs, 17 others will be selected for a public exhibition scheduled for early 2027. The winners will be announced during the exhibition's opening, with details provided by the IET. All 20 selected photographs will become part of the IET's photographic archive and may be used in future exhibitions or publications, with proper attribution to the authors.
The competition rules for “Feeling the mudéjar in Teruel… today (21st century)” can be found on the IET's website.
