The newly relaunched journal Visual Culture in Britain is offering two prizes. The Pete James Collection Prize 2026, is in collaboration with Birmingham City University which houses Pete's archive. Applicants are invited to spend time with the Pete James Collection at Birmingham City University.
The Peter James Collection Prize aims to support researchers at any career stage with access to the collection, staff mentorship and a prize of £1000 co-supported by the institution and the Journal of Visual Culture in Britain on behalf of Taylor & Francis. The successful applicant will be expected to submit a Visual Culture in Focus article (2,000-4,000-word) (see guidance here: Learn about Visual Culture in Britain) by Tuesday 1st September 2026. The money will be awarded on submission and acceptance of the article. This will then be published in the final issue of the year (December 2026). Applications for the 2026 prize is open until Monday 05th January 2026. The collection will be accessible between February and July 2026.
To celebrate the relaunch the JVCB has announced an essay prize for original research articles that build on the editorial vision of the journal. It encourages critical approaches that propose novel or expansive ways of rethinking the journal’s title - what does ‘visual culture in Britain’ look like today? - by engaging with visual culture’s past, present or future histories.
The competition aims to highlight and celebrate original research on any aspect of visual culture and is open to scholars at all career levels. Submissions are welcome from all regions but must be written in English. The essay, unpublished, will be between 6,000 and 8,000 words in length and follow the guidelines outlined on the journal webpage here.
The winner will receive:
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Publication in Visual Culture in Britain following the peer-review process. Please note that any image costs will need to be covered by the prize winner.
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£500 cash prize.
All entries will be considered for submission to the journal. Runners up will receive expert feedback and editorial support towards peer review and publication.
Entries must be submitted by Monday 27th April 2026 to vcbessayprize@gmail.com All entries will be reviewed and shortlisted by the editors against criteria of academic rigour, originality and advancement of visual culture methodologies. The shortlisted essays will then be submitted to a panel composed of members of our Advisory Board who will select the winner. Decisions will be communicated in June 2026. The winner will be published in our December 2026 issue.
Appearing three times a year, Visual Culture in Britain is dedicated to exploring the generative interrelations between visual culture, individuals, and societies in Britain, both historically and today. The journal publishes new peer-reviewed scholarship that investigates the forms, spaces, processes, and politics through which visual worlds/materials are made meaningful, and examines their effects within an expanded and unsettled concept of ‘Britishness’. Visual Culture in Britain is inclusive and interdisciplinary, welcoming submissions at any time, for original articles, features, special issues, and reviews. The editors are: Gary Bratchford, Birmingham City University, Sara Dominici, University of Westminster, and Victoria Horne, Northumbria University.
See more: Pete James Collection Prize 2026 and Eassy Prize and past articles and open access articles here
