Cortona On The Move / BarTur Grant 2026

The Cortona On The Move | BarTur Grant offers a $30,000 Grand Prize awarded to one professional photographer and two $5,000 Prizes, awarded to two emerging photographers under 30.

Overview

The COTM | BarTur Grant was created for photographers who carry a story not only in their imagination, but in their daily effort, those who have already invested their own time, resources, and heart into bringing a vision to life. Developed in collaboration with Cortona On The Move, the award honors visual storytellers who push the medium forward through courage, curiosity, and steadfast commitment.

They believe every photographer has a project that won't let them go - an idea they have nurtured, returned to, and pursued as far as they could on their own. The COTM | BarTur Grant exists to meet them at that threshold, offering the support needed to take that work further: to refine, complete, and elevate a story already born from dedication.

The grant celebrates photography shaped by authorship and intention, grounded in cultural resonance, and expressed through a clear, fearless point of view. It is an invitation for committed storytellers to step deeper into their vision and bring long-imagined projects to their fullest realization.

Practical Info

Photographers are invited to submit proposals for in-progress documentary projects that align with the fund’s central themes. Still images are required; additional media like video or drawings may be included to enrich the narrative. Submissions must include a biography, a CV, a project summary, and a project proposal, which includes a budget and timeline for project completion.

The Cortona On The Move | BarTur Grant will award a $30,000 grand prize to one professional photographer. The Grant invites established photographers to submit proposals for in-progress documentary project(s) that reflect the fund’s central themes. The selected work will be exhibited in Cortona On The Move 2027.

The Cortona On The Move | BarTur Grant for Emerging Photographers will award two $5,000 grand prizes to two professional photographers under the age of 30. The Grant invites emerging professional photographers under the age of 30 to submit proposals for in-progress documentary project(s) that reflect the fund’s central themes. The prize recipients' work will be exhibited in Cortona on the Move 2027. Submissions are free for this category.

The grand prize recipient will be announced at Cortona On The Move Festival in July 2026. They will have nine months to complete their project, with the final work submitted by 15th March 2027. The completed work will be exhibited at Cortona On The Move in July 2027, offering a global stage to amplify their story.

The jury is composed of Alice Gabriner, Amnon BarTur, Arianna Arcara, Brian Byrd, Charlotte Cotton, David Campany, Fiona Shields, Frank Meo, Heba Farid, Hideko Kataoka, James Wellford, Lars Lindemann, Lucy Conticello, Marie Monteleone, Natalie Brett, Paolo Woods, Renata Ferri, Veronica Nicolardi, and Vivek Prakash.

About Cortona On The Move

Since its inception in 2011, Cortona On The Move has been a leading international photography festival, hosted annually in the Tuscan town of Cortona, Italy. Renowned for its dedication to photographic excellence, the festival serves as a hub for photographers, curators, critics, authors, and the public. It has become a pivotal event in the global photography landscape, showcasing groundbreaking work and fostering meaningful connections.

About BarTur Photo Award

The BarTur Photo Award celebrates the transformative power of photography in shaping our understanding of the world. By championing photographers who challenge conventional perspectives, the award aims to spark meaningful dialogue and inspire action on critical global issues.

About Visual Storytellers Fund

The Visual Storytellers Fund is dedicated to providing grants and resources to photographers all over the world. The Fund aims to empower photographers who are creating compelling documentary photo essays that address critical social, environmental, economic, and cultural issues. Our mission is to support and amplify visual storytelling that may transcend boundaries, sparks dialogue, and fosters empathy.