Hudson, NC – The Mitford Museum & Discovery Center invites young photographers to enter the 2025 Candace Freeland Photography of Merit Award contest. Open to youth up to age 18, this year’s theme is After the Storm. Inspired by the resilience of Western North Carolina communities after Hurricane Helene, the theme challenges participants to reflect on recovery after disaster and to capture that spirit of hope and courage through black-and-white cell phone photography.
The contest honors the legacy of acclaimed photographer Candace Freeland and reflects the vision of #1 New York Times bestselling author Jan Karon, creator of the beloved Mitford novels. Her 15th book in the series, My Beloved, will be released in October 2025.
Past participants in the contest have been inspired as students and artists. “I plan to pursue photography in college and continue it as a full-time career,” said Hazel Mackey, age 17, the 2023 winner. “I heard about the Candace Freeland Photography of Merit award from a friend at my church and found the work of Jan Karon and Candace Freeland to be incredible and inspiring, especially to me as a young artist.”
Contest entries are due by August 1. For more information or to enter, visit www.themitfordmuseum.org/photo-contest or contact the Museum at (828) 572-1511.
Photo: Candace Freeland. by The Mitford Museum
