19 June 2020

Submissions close for Hold Still with over 30,000 entries

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Submissions to Hold Still (#HoldStill2020) - the National Portrait Gallery's UK-wide photography project championed by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge and supported by Taylor Wessing - are now closed.

As of 6pm on 18 June, submissions to Hold Still closed and we are overwhelmed to discover there have been over 30,000 entries to this incredible project. They capture an extraordinary time that we are living through and respond to the themes of:

Helpers and Heroes
Your New Normal
Acts of Kindness

One hundred shortlisted portraits will feature in a virtual exhibition on the National Portrait Gallery’s website in August and a selection of images will also be shown across the UK later in the year.

What is Hold Still?

#HoldStill2020 was open to people of all ages and abilities in the UK and aims to create a collective portrait of the nation's experience of lockdown. Whilst many people’s lives are on hold to help protect our helpers and heroes, there are some that are working harder than ever, and others that are enduring the upheaval of hardship and loss.

The hope is that this ambitious community project will create a unique photographic portrait, which captures the spirit, mood, hopes, fears and feelings of the nation as we continue to deal with the Coronavirus outbreak.

We're thrilled to be able to support Hold Still. It's a privilege to be part of such an accessible project that we feel sure will capture everyone's hearts and imaginations, bringing us all closer together in these extraordinary circumstances.”

Shane Gleghorn | Managing Partner, Taylor Wessing

Capturing a snapshot of the UK

The submissions to Hold Still have been incredible. Uplifting, heartbreaking and powerful reminders of the importance of togetherness and community spirit. These snapshots showcase the diversity and humanity that drive our society forward. It's a privilege to support a project that aims to capture, share and inspire as Hold Still does.


'Band practise at a distance'	'Life goes on'	'We are the future'	'Play it again, Max'

The campaign has captured a snapshot of the UK at this time, creating a collective portrait of lockdown, which reflects resilience and bravery, humour and sadness, creativity and kindness, and human tragedy and hope. The resulting collection will also act as a reminder of the significance of human connection in times of adversity, and that although we were physically apart, as a community and nation, we all faced and rose to the challenge together.

We've been sharing some of the entries as they came in, celebrating the wealth of creativity and stories that people all over the country are sharing. Take a look at our Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn pages to see more. You can also see a selection on the National Portrait Gallery's website.

Why this matters to Taylor Wessing

Our sponsorship of the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize, held annually at the National Portrait Gallery, has been central to our firm's culture for the past twelve years. During a moment of such uncertainty for the country, we are delighted to continue our support of the arts and the National Portrait Gallery, and in turn celebrate the resilience, kindness and creativity of the nation's public.

As Shane Gleghorn, Managing Partner, Taylor Wessing says,

For a long time we have enjoyed working as a team with the National Portrait Gallery to create a platform that allows talented photographers to flourish. Creativity is such an important part of our culture. It plays a central role in helping us to understand different perspectives, so it's a pleasure to support this project which will enable people to use their photographs to connect and share their stories.”

For more information on our relationship with National Portrait Gallery, explore our previous articles on the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize: