Photographs can be entered for this exhibit through April 19.

Call for Rhythm & Roots photograph entries

BRISTOL, VA-TN - Later this year the Birthplace of Country Music Museum hosts a new special exhibit "Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion Through Your Eyes," featuring photographs from Bristol Rhythm fans and festival goers. The juried exhibit is created in-house by the museum’s curatorial team, based on photographs taken at any Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion from its beginnings in 2000 to the most recent festival in 2017.

“We are excited to be turning to the Bristol Rhythm community to help us in creating this very special exhibit,” says Birthplace of Country Music Museum Head Curator René Rodgers. “We have thought about doing a community-led exhibit for a while, and after discussion we thought there was no better way to do that than to tap into the viewpoints and enthusiasm of the people who attend the festival each year. We are hoping to get a wide variety of images that reflect the atmosphere and energy of Bristol Rhythm.”

Photographs can include shots from all aspects of the festival from the performances on stage and buskers on the street to people enjoying the festival atmosphere to the variety of activities on offer such as Children’s Day or jam workshops. The images will be judged by professional photographers Neil Staples, Jay Phyfer and Billie Wheeler, former Virginia Intermont professors and alumni, all of whom have worked at the festival and other BCM music events. Photographs will be judged and chosen on the basis of quality and content. The chosen images will then be included and credited in the special exhibit on a series of designed panels.

The exhibit is tentatively set to open in the Special Exhibits Gallery of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum in mid-August and will be on display during this year's festival and through Oct. 21.

Photographs can be entered for this exhibit through April 19. The museum has created specific guidelines for photograph submissions, and these can be found at BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org or requested via email at info@BirthplaceOfCountryMusic.org or phone at 423-573-1927. Anyone is eligible to enter, regardless of amateur or professional status, residence, or age; however, individuals under the age of 18 will be requested to provide written parental/guardian consent should their work be selected.