What Is NUSPS Montage and What Are Its Yearly Themes?

NUSPS Montage is the Photographic Society of NUS's recurring photography exhibition, and each edition is built around a different theme. The society's site lists themes going back to 2017, from "Transformation" that year through "Connections" for 2026. If you want to take part, the practical pattern shown on the site is that submissions open for a period, then close before judging begins, and the management committee contacts winners afterward.

The yearly themes listed by NUSPS

The Montage page on nusps.org.sg names one theme per edition. The full list shown is:

A few things stand out from this list. The themes are broad enough to accept many styles of photography — "Perspectives" or "Change" could be interpreted through portraits, streetscapes, or abstract work. The 2020–2022 themes ("This is My Story," "Change," "the New Normal") track closely with the pandemic years, which suggests the society picks themes that respond to what its members are living through. And there is no 2023 entry on the page, so the list as published skips that year.

How an edition runs, based on the 2024 cycle

The site's posts give a concrete picture of how Montage 2024 unfolded, which is the best guide to what to expect in a future edition.

• Submissions close first. A July 25, 2024 post announced that Montage 2024 submissions had "officially closed," thanking entrants for their submissions.
• Judging follows. The same post said the society was "going into the judging stage in the coming weeks."
• Winners are contacted directly. The committee said it would "reach out to the winners in early August."

So the sequence is: submit during the open window → wait while judging runs → hear from the committee only if you win. The site does not state entry fees, eligibility rules, or submission formats, so check the current Montage page or contact the society before planning an entry.

Reading the themes as a photographer

If you are deciding what to shoot for an upcoming Montage, the theme list is useful as a signal of the society's taste. The themes tend to be conceptual rather than subject-based — none of them say "landscapes" or "portraits." That means a strong entry usually needs a clear idea connecting the images to the theme, not just technically good photos.

For example, if the theme were "Connections" (2026), a set could explore family ties, urban infrastructure, or the relationship between people and place. The theme gives you a direction; the judging, per the site, is handled by the management committee, though the site does not describe the judging criteria.

Where Montage sits among NUSPS activities

Montage is not the society's only activity. The site's recent posts also cover photowalks (Joo Chiat, Chinatown for Chinese New Year, the Central Business District) and talks such as "Light Talks 3 – Travel Photography." Those events are shorter, hands-on, and often provide loaner gear — the Joo Chiat walk noted gear would be "loaned on a first come first" basis. Montage, by contrast, is the annual exhibition-style project where members submit work around a set theme.

If you are new to the society, a photowalk or talk is a low-commitment way to get involved; Montage is the larger, once-a-year opportunity to have work judged and possibly recognized.

Quick answers

Is Montage annual? Yes — the theme list shows one edition per year from 2017 onward, with 2023 missing from the published list.

Do I need to be an NUS student? The site does not state eligibility for Montage, so confirm with the society through its Contact Us page.

How will I know if I won? Based on the 2024 cycle, the managing committee contacts winners directly after judging.

Where can I see past themes? The Montage section of nusps.org.sg lists each edition by year and theme.