A Guide to September 2024 Photo Awards & Opportunities

Paris Photo–Aperture PhotoBook Awards, Premio Francesco Fabbri, Artphilein Photobook Contest and Lucie Photo Book Prize are among the opportunities we selected this month.

2024 Paris Photo–Aperture PhotoBook Awards

Deadline 6 September / Entry fee €18-46

Initiated in November 2012 by Aperture and Paris Photo, the Paris Photo–Aperture PhotoBook Awards celebrate the photobook’s contribution to the evolving narrative of photography, with three major categories: First PhotoBook which includes a $10,000 (€8,970) prize, PhotoBook of the Year, and Photography Catalog of the Year. In addition to being displayed at Paris Photo, the shortlisted books will be exhibited around the world in venues such as Printed Matter (New York), Tenderbooks (London) and Oodi (Helsinki). Judges include Negar Azimi, Jacqueline Bates, Michael Famighetti, Nontsikelelo Mutiti and Anna Planas.

You can apply by 6th September. Find out more on their website. 

Premio Francesco Fabbri 2024

Deadline 2 September / Entry fee €40

With the aim to promote international contemporary photographic research and the emerging arts, the award is open to all contemporary artists no matter their nationality. The Emerging Art section invites contemporary artists under 35 years to submit any form of visual artwork—with no limitations in terms of the language used—such as painting, drawing, graphic art, sculpture, art installations, video-art, performance art, sound-art and photography. The Contemporary Photography section calls for authors working with any photographic medium, with no limits of age. Winners of both sections will be awarded a €5,000 cash prize. In addition, the shortlisted works will be exhibited at Villa Brandolini of Pieve di Soligo, Treviso, Italy, from 30th November to 15th December 2024.

The jury for the Emerging Art section is composed of Lorenzo Balbi, Rossella Farinotti, Antonio Grulli, Angel Moya Garcia, and Carlo Sala. The jury panel for the Contemporary Photography section includes Matteo Balduzzi, Francesca Lazzarini, Giangavino Pazzola, Mauro Zanchi, and Carlo Sala.

Discover more on their website.

Artphilein Photobook Contest 2024

Deadline 15 September / No entry fee

Artists are welcome to submit their work under the theme Utopia: A Perfect Place Or No Place? In a historical moment of crisis and conflict, the theme of utopia is alive and kicking, offering a variety of interpretations and approaches to the search for a better future. How does contemporary photography confront utopian visions and dimensions today?

The selected artists will be awarded a residency at the Artphilein’s spaces in Lugano (the duration of which will be agreed upon with the winner), the production of the photobook to be published by Artphilein Editions, the 10% of the copies of the published photobook, and an exhibition at the Artphilein’s spaces in Lugano/Paradiso. Among the judges are Ronald Pizzoferrato, Michela Becchis, Anne Nwakalor and Caterina De Pietri.

More information on their website. 

2024 Lucie Photo Book Prize

Deadline 15 September / Entry fee €32-50

The Lucie Photo Book Prize is open to all types of photobooks, from published to prototype to hand-made books produced between March 2022 – October 2024. The award includes two cash prizes consisting of $3,000 (€2,690) for the Traditional category awarded to a photographer, editor, curator or publisher whose book is commercially produced and distributed, and $2,000 (€1,790) for the Independent category awarded to a photographer, editor, curator or publisher whose book is published and distributed independently. Eligible books include exhibition catalogues, proposals, self-published, limited edition, multi-artist, single-author, intersectional, zine, reissue, and more.

This year jury is composed of JiaJia Fei (Digital Strategist for the Art World), Chaya Howell (Founder and Director of Marginalized in Mind), Sacha Lecca (Deputy Photo Editor, Rolling Stones), Karen Williams (Visual Creative Director), Nicole Motta (Art Director, META), Holly Fischer (Director of Photography).

You can apply by 15th September with a €32-50 entry fee. Find out more on their website. 

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Other Deadlines

SWIT Platform Residency 2025 / Deadline 20 September / No entry fee

The open call is open to Italy-based artists (regardless of nationality) working with photography. The residency is scheduled for 25 February–25 March 2025. The selected artist receives a final solo exhibition, a €800 artist fee, €350 as travel compensation, a €300 production fee, a free studio space at Kulturhuset Bergsjön, free accommodation, free access to Göteborgs Bildverkstad, a collective workshop for image production. Plus, mentorship sessions with artist and curator Oscar Ramos, curatorial support by Stefano Conti, and possibility of carrying out gallery visits, artist talks, attending openings, and more. During the residency, the artist is expected to work towards an exhibition at Kulturhuset Bergsjön open between March 22–April 7, 2025.

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Visit our awards page or download our iOS awards app to get a complete view of the best photography opportunities that are currently open for entry.