2024 Light Work Grants In Photography

The Light Work Grants in Photography program was established in 1975 to support artists working in Central New York.

Overview

Light Work began offering grants to CNY artists in 1975 to encourage the production of new photographic work in the region. Three $3,000 grants will be awarded to photographers who reside within an approximate 50-mile radius of Syracuse, N.Y. The recipients of these grants are invited to display their work in a special exhibition at Light Work, and their work will also be reproduced in Light Work’s award-winning publication, Contact Sheet: The Light Work Annual.

In its 49-year history, Light Work Grants have supported more than 110 artists, some multiple times. With the help of the regional grant, many artists have been able to continue long term projects, purchase equipment, frame photographs for exhibitions, promote their work, collaborate with others or otherwise continue their artist goals.

Practical Info

All applicants must reside in one of the following Central New York counties: Broome, Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca, St. Lawrence, Tioga or Tompkins. Three judges will review the applications. Their decisions are based solely on the strength of the candidate’s portfolio and completed application. Individuals who received this award in 2020 or earlier are eligible to re-apply. Full-time students are not eligible. Applicants must submit 10-20 images or a video from a work ready to be exhibited in the Jeffrey J. Hoone Gallery at Light Work.

Submissions are reviewed by a panel of judges who reside outside the eligible geographic area. Grants will be awarded on the strength of the candidate’s portfolio and application. Light Work interprets the medium of photography in broad terms, and encourages the submission of work produced with new and traditional technologies.

About Light Work

Light Work was founded as an artist-run, non-profit organization in 1973. Its mission is to provide direct support through residencies, publications, exhibitions, a community-access digital lab facility, and other related projects to emerging and under-represented artists working in the media of photography and digital imaging. Light Work’s founding directors were Phil Block and Tom Bryan. Jeffrey Hoone led the organization from 1982-2021. Light Work is housed in the Robert B. Menschel Media Center at Syracuse University.