County Derry John Steinbeck Festival launch their photography competition

The Dust Bowl Photographic Competition for the 2025 John Steinbeck Festival has officially been launched.

It is the fourth annual photography competition which is one of the many events that celebrate Steinbeck’s connection to Ballykelly and the surrounding area through art, music, literature, and film.

This year’s competition theme is ‘Leaving’, and the judges welcome applicants personal interpretations of the theme.

Joanne McGinnis, one of the festival's organisers said: “Leaving is open to interpretation. Leaving can be in any form. From leaving your kids to school to leaving the housework, to the idea of leaving a country which is of course what John Steinbeck’s grandfather had to do.

“It is down to the individual photographer and what they want to capture in that moment.

“The best 20 entries will be displayed in the Roe Valley Arts and Culture Centre, and the winner will receive a sculpture from celebrated ceramicist Adam Frew. He currently has an exhibition on display in London.

"His work is beautiful and very unique.”

Entry into the competition is free, and there are no age limits on participant entry.

The Steinbeck festival was established by local historian Douglas Bartlett, who is a Limavady native and former Vice Principal and Head of History in Limavady High School, where he worked for 35 years.

While ‘Leaving’ is the theme of this year's photography competition, John Steinbeck returned to his ancestral village of Ballykelly in August 1952 to visit the birthplace of his grandfather and members of the Hamilton family. 

Joanne said: “The name John Steinbeck is instantly recognisable. His books are on school curriculums across the world and have been translated into numerous films (Of Mice and Men).

“His grandfather had emigrated to America; he was born in Ballykelly; his name was Samuel Hamilton.

“It is a festival to commemorate that connection. We have the festival every year with a celebration event on what would have been John Steinbeck’s birthday, February 27.”

The photography competition wants to celebrate the culture and the talent of Limavady and the surrounding area.

Details of the competition including rules are available through the link here to the festival website.

The closing date for the competition is Sunday, December 8.

Joanne said: “The photography competition is the lead-up to the festival in February and we are in full planning mode with some really exciting artists participating in the programme of events so watch this space.

“It is an opportunity to bring arts and culture through music, literature, and photography to Limavady and the surrounding area.”

You can follow The John Steinbeck Festival on Instagram @steinbeck_festival_limavady Facebook and X @steinbeck_Fest for further information about upcoming events.