Sky Arts commissions new photography project with Rankin as the search begins today

In a brand new Sky Original series to mark the launch of Sky Arts as a free-to-air channel, acclaimed photographer Rankin is inviting everyone with a smartphone or camera to join him in a mass-participation photography project to document 2020 – a year like no other.

Rankin’s 2020 launches today with a search to find the best amateur and professional photographers. From now until 23 August, Rankin is inviting amateurs and professionals alike to take a photograph, or submit something from their back catalogue, that represents their year in 2020.

To submit a photo, the public can post it on Instagram with the hashtag #2020rankin in the description using the handle @2020rankin, along with the category they are entering. The categories are Family, Fun, Self, Beauty, Empathy, and Nature. Make sure your account isn’t set to private, otherwise we won’t be able to see submissions. The public can find out further information on Instagram at @2020rankin, or via the website: www.2020rankin.com.

As part of Sky Arts mission to increase access to and drive participation in the arts, bringing more art to more people, the project is open to everyone.

Rankin says: “Photography is my life and passion and I truly believe it has the power to reveal and connect. Now we all have cameras in our pockets, I think it’s time to use them. Rankin’s 2020 is an open call to anybody who thinks they can take a great picture. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve never taken a photograph before or you’re a professional, I want to see your view of our world. Together we can document this crazy year and make something positive out of it.”

The 6x30 Sky Original series will air on Sky Arts this September when the channel becomes free for everyone across the UK to watch on Freeview. It will also be available on streaming service NOW TV.

Each episode of Rankin’s 2020 will focus on one of the six categories and each week Rankin will be joined by different celebrities to select the best submissions. Rankin will also take his own picture each week, giving a technical and artistic masterclass as he takes us through the process. He will use a variety of equipment including smartphones and consumer-grade SLRs to show that his techniques are accessible to everyone.

Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts, says: “It’s been a year like no other and there is no better way to document this than through a brand new photographic project, fronted by one of the finest photographers in the country, Rankin. Sky Arts champions creativity and the project is open to everyone to take part – so it’s the perfect time to get snapping!”

For more information on how to enter visit: https://www.2020rankin.com

Rankin’s 2020 is the latest in a raft of brand new original programming recently announced as coming to Sky Arts, including: Landmark, where artists and local communities across the UK will join forces in a quest to create the next great British landmark, English National Opera’s Drive & Live, a world-first exclusive broadcast of the ENO’s drive-in opera performance of La Bohème and Danny Dyer on Pinter, where Dyer explores the life and works of Harold Pinter and tells the story of their unlikely friendship.

Rankin’s 2020 is produced by NPL Media; executive producer is Nat Low and series director and producer is Marco De Luca. Benedetta Pinelli is commissioning editor for Sky. The series was commissioned by Phil Edgar-Jones Director of Sky Arts and Entertainment and Zai Bennett, Managing Director of Content, Sky UK and Ireland.

For more information please contact:

calum.mcgarry@premiercomms.com / hannah.harris-turner@premiercomms.com

About Sky Arts

As the UK’s only dedicated arts channel, Sky Arts exists to bring more art to more people across the UK. By throwing open the doors to make the channel free to air, we want to increase access to and participation in the arts.

Offering something for everyone, whatever their passion, Sky Arts showcases the best of classical and popular music, theatre, opera, dance and the visual arts, as well as original drama and comedy.

About Sky

With 24 million customers across seven countries, Sky is Europe’s leading media and entertainment company and is proud to be part of the Comcast group. Our 31,000 employees help connect our customers with the very best of Sports, News, the arts and to our own local, original content. Following the success of Sky originals like Chernobyl, Patrick Melrose, Das Boot and Gomorrah we launched Sky Studios and now plan to more than double our investment in original drama and comedy over the next five years.

Our technology allows customers to watch what they want, when they want, how they want, and as we connect millions of families to content they love, it is our responsibility to do it safely – that’s why we offer services like Sky Broadband Buddy and the Sky Kids app. And our online streaming service, NOW TV, brings viewers all the enjoyment of Sky with the flexibility of a contract-free service.

We also believe that a company of our scale has a responsibility that goes beyond our business, and into the community. Our Sky Ocean Rescue campaign has reached millions across Europe, we’re on track to be free of single-use plastic by 2020, we’re investing £25million over five years in ocean-saving tech and we’re a proud employer – recognised by The Times and Stonewall for our approach to inclusivity.

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