Photo competition launched to mark 400th anniversary of Scarborough becoming spa town

The 400 years of being a seaside resort gives the town its unique character and attractiveness.

This uniqueness takes various forms, such as a group of significant buildings or an area which is famous (or even notorious!) for a particular reason, such as a fisherman’s quarter or the site of some historical event.

Large swathes of Scarborough are endowed with magical memories of its past, but photographs of anything in the town are valid for this competition.

It is not a competition for the most perfect photograph and entries are just as valid whether taken on expensive professional equipment or the most inexpensive phone camera.

Submissions made in digital format with £100 prizes are to be had.

In addition, the winning entries will be publicised on the Civic Society’s website and in the Scarborough News.

The entries will feature in an exhibition to be held at the celebration of Scarborough in the Ocean Room at the Spa, from 10am to 5pm on July 18 and 19.

Entrants do not have to be Civic Society members and the judges decision will be final.

What the judges will be looking for is the entrant’s view of what makes a particular area or scene attractive, enjoyable or distinct and what makes him or her proud to live in Scarborough so the description of the photograph is important.

The competition closes at midnight on June 30, 2026 so plenty of time to capture that special shot.

Brief summary of the rules:

1. The subject for the competition is a view which the photographer finds evokes the 400 years of being a seaside resort and gives the town its unique character.

What the judges will be looking for is why the photo stimulates that thought.

Perhaps some historical event or a particular area or scene specially relevant on our 400th anniversary.

So the description of the photograph is important.

2. The subject must be within five miles of Scarborough Town Hall.

3. Entrants should submit their photo either in colour or black and white in digital form.

4. The competition is open to all, whether members of the Civic Society or not.

Entrants under the age of 16 years need to have parent or guardian consent to enter.

5. Entrants must not be professional photographers and, for the purposes of this competition, a professional photographer will be considered to be someone who makes more than half their annual income from the sale of their photographs.

6. Each entry should be submitted with name, address, contact telephone number, where the photo was taken and the reasons why it evokes feelings of pride in Scarborough.

7. Entries should be emailed to [email protected].

There are two age categories in the competition namely, under 16, 16 and over.

The winner of each category will receive a prize of £100.

All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party.

Visit the society’s website www.scarboroughcivicsociety.org.uk to see the complete competition rules and to download an entry form.

The photo here was taken a few years ago and is an example of what the judges might be looking for.

The description of the photograph is essential so that the participant can express what significance the entry has for them personally.