What is audio documentary? How do recording technologies, sonic vernaculars, activism, and dissent come together in a documentary art form that engages with our ears?
Thank you for your interest in the Human Rights Audio Documentary Award. We have made the decision to pause the award while we revisit the application process and goals for the award. Thank you.
This new award, sponsored by the Human Rights Archive and the Archive of Documentary Arts at the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, seeks to support outstanding documentary artists exploring human rights and social justice and expand the audio holdings in the Archive for long-term preservation and access. Through the use of aural practices, we are seeking submissions that delve into the sensory world of human rights via the act of listening. We highly encourage works that pull from the strengths of the medium and go beyond the core mission of transmitting information but can create sonic worlds and immersive experience. Both narrative and experimental documentary works are accepted.
The awardee will receive an honorarium of $2,500 USD paid from an endowment, plus be expected to give a talk at Duke (virtual talk or in-person will be decided at a later date).
Why should I apply?
The David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Library has a strong commitment to human rights and the documentary arts through collecting and making available works by creators from around the world. Our collections document the impact that organizations and individuals have, and the role documentary plays, to motivate the thinking of others, and the influence that has on private and government policies.
We encourage submissions from individuals or groups from across the globe, whose work is not already in the collections of the Rubenstein Library. Documentarians working in their own communities are encouraged to apply, and we are particularly interested in submissions from communities underrepresented in the archives.
Please limit to one entry per person or group. We are not accepting submissions from employees of Duke University, or those currently enrolled in a degree-granting program.
This form does not save your work in progress. We suggest you compose your responses in another program and copy and paste your answers in the fields below.
- Your complete contact information: Name, Email, Phone
- Statement of interest in the archive: Consider addressing the importance of long-term preservation and access to your work.
- Description: We accept non-English works but ask that you include a brief description of your project in English.
- Bio: This is a short narrative that tells us a little bit about you, your experience, and your work.
- Link to your audio file: We will not be able to accept files via email or download. We suggest you use a hosting platform such as a personal website, or free options such as Soundcloud.
Copyright and Access
The awardee is not required to transfer copyright. However, it is our goal to make our collections available to a diverse group of people and expand our avenues of access that are equitable and open, including online access and educational use. We balance this with the appropriate privacy and other restrictions determined important by creators. You can see a sample of our purchase agreement here, and check out our statement on How We Work.
Timeline
- None at this time.
Previous Winners
2021. "Leonard: Political Prisoner" by ManBites Dog films wins the inaugural Human Rights Audio Documentary Award. Read more...
This award is an initiative of the Human Rights Archive and the Archive of Documentary Arts at the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. Learn more about Special Collections at Duke...
