April's Grants and Awards

The Women Photograph Grants, Canon Giovani Fotografi Award, and W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography are all open for submissions this April. Read our curated awards guide to learn all about them and how they can help support the production and promotion of your visual stories.

The Women Photograph Grants, Canon Giovani Fotografi Award, and W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography are all open for submissions this April. Read our curated awards guide to learn all about them and how they can help support the production and promotion of your visual stories.

Women Photograph Grants // Deadline: 15 May // No entry fee

Launched back in 2017, the Women Photograph Grants aim to elevate the exposure of female, female-identifying, and non-binary visual journalists.

The first, presented in collaboration with Nikon, offers five $5,000 endowments to support the production of photography projects - either new or in-progress - from journalists working in a documentary capacity. Of the five available, one will be earmarked for a non-binary or transgender photographer. Applicants are encouraged to submit stories, rather than singles, as part of their application, and images need not be related to the project proposal.

For the second Grant, Women Photograph has partnered with Getty Images to award $10,000 to help fund an ongoing documentary project from a professional photojournalist who has demonstrated a long-term commitment to their story. Submissions must include 20 - 25 images indicating that a significant amount of work has already been completed, and that the photographer has a clear vision of what further work is needed to finish the project. Additional consideration will be given to applicants who display a personal connection to, and engagement with, the communities they are covering.

For all grants, half of the funding will be disbursed at the beginning of the project, and half upon completion. The deadline to apply is 15 May. No entry fee. Learn more at womenphotograph.com.

Cortona On The Move. Happiness ONTHEMOVE Award // Open: 16 April, Deadline: 27 May // Entry fee: €10

As in all six previous editions, Cortona's seventh annual Happiness ONTHEMOVE Award invites photographers to submit work with happiness as the central theme. "Happiness is suspension, surprise, a story that resonates inside you, often for no reason whatsoever. Happiness is action, it is stillness, it can be just a look, or maybe an entire lifetime" say the festival's curators. "We’re not looking for easy smiles or stereotyped images. We want to see true happiness in your stories" they add.

This award aims to reveal those everyday moments that seem ordinary on the surface, yet nevertheless make us smile and offer a window into a joyous reality. Cortona asks that applicants reflect upon the theme, avoiding a purely literal interpretation, and develop ideas related to the multifaceted nature of the concept using their own personal vision, creativity, and sensitivity. The award winner will receive a monetary prize of €3,000 plus a solo exhibition at the next COTM in 2019, while the winning project will be screened during the inauguration period of this year's festival in July. The deadline is 27 May. Entry fee: €10. Visit cortonaonthemove.com to learn more.

Pampa Energía FoLa Awards // Early Bird Deadline: 16 April; Final Deadline: 14 May // Entry fee: $10 - $15

Supported as a media partner by PHmuseum, the inaugural Pampa Energía FoLa Awards have been established to shine a light on the work of contemporary image-makers from Latin America.

The Narrative Prize (Premio Narrativa) - to be juried by Andrea Jösch, Claudi Carreras, and Magdalena Herrera - looks to support and promote visual storytelling through monetary endowments worth $9,000 and opportunities for exposure that include a solo show at Verzasca Photo Festival (Switzerland) and a projection at San José Photo (Uruguay). Guadalupe Lara and Nicolás Janowski will also select a project from among the submissions for exhibitions at FoLa (Argentina), within the Latin American Contemporary Photography program, and Foto Museo Cuatro Caminos (Mexico). The Work Acquisition Prize (Premio Obra Adquisición), offering $9,000 in cash awards for the best single images, will be judged by Rodrigo Alonso, Florencia Portocarrero, and José Antonio Navarrete.

Photographers can take advantage of the $10 early bird fee if they apply before 16 April, after which the entry cost will be $15. For those who wish to submit work to both awards, there are special discounts available. The final deadline is 14 May. Further information can be found at premiopampaenergiafola.com.

Canon Giovani Fotografi Award // Deadline: 31 May // No entry fee

© Matteo Bastianelli (2010 Canon Giovani Fotografi Award winner)

Open to emerging talents between the ages of 18 and 35, the Canon Giovani Fotografi Award returns for its 13th edition with Tells us a Story as the central theme. “Stories are a source of inspiration and creative expression, and their narration through the photographic language is a challenge that excites and stimulates” say the organisers.

For the first time this year, the contest features a new multimedia category in addition to the traditional photography award, and the winning projects of both prizes will be included in the official exhibition program at Cortona On The Move 2018. Further relevant prizes include Canon digital imaging equipment and multiple tutorship sessions, worth around €3,000, with leaders in the industry. The eight-member jury this year is composed of Arianna Rinaldo (Artistic Director, Cortona On The Move), Renata Ferri (Photo Editor, Io Donna), Giulia Ticozzi (Photo Editor, La Repubblica), Raffaele Vertaldi (Photo Editor, IL Magazine), Pietro Masturzo (Photographer), Melissa Jollivet (Photo Editor, Internazionale), and Massimiliano Ceravolo (Professional Imaging Group and B2C Marketing Director, Canon Italia SpA).

The application deadline is 31 May. No entry fee. For more information, visit canon.it/giovanifotografi.

Getty Images Reportage Grant // Deadline: 15 May // No entry fee

The Getty Images Reportage Grant is designed to support independent photojournalists around the world by providing the creative freedom necessary to pursue work that is of personal importance. Three $15,000 grants are available with selection to be based on the jury’s determination of the applicants’ ability to execute the proposed project with compelling a visual narrative in a documentary format, taking into account the quality of the portfolio, the project's merit, and professional ability.

The judges in this, the 11th edition, are David Guttenfelder (National Geographic photographer), Zara Katz (Photo Editor), Wayne Lawrence (Photographer), Amy Pereira (Director of Photography), and Vaughn Wallace (Senior Photo Editor, National Geographic). Submissions must include a 500 word project summary, a short biography, and 20 – 25 original images either related or unrelated to the proposal. This year, grant winners will receive the full amount of the grant in one installment. The application deadline is 15 May. No entry fee. Learn more at wherewestand.gettyimages.com.

W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography // Deadline: 31 May // Entry fee: $50

The W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography is awarded annually to a photographer whose previous work and proposed project, as deemed by a jury, follows in the tradition of W. Eugene Smith's concerned photography and dedicated compassion as a photographic essayist.

The Fund's Board of Trustees will appoint a three-member panel featuring leading names from the world of photography, which will convene for two rounds of judging. In the first, the jury will select a small, unpredetermined, number of finalists based on the substantive and intellectual merit of the application. Those photographers on the shortlist will then be required to submit a more detailed and focused proposal and to produce a 1 - 3 minute video outlining their project. In their second session, the jury will review the new material and choose the winner and the beneficiaries of the fellowship money.

For 2018, one photographer will receive a grant of $35,000, while an additional $5,000 will be dispersed, at the discretion of the jury, to one or more finalists deemed worthy of special recognition. Awards will be presented in a ceremony held in New York City on 17 October. The submission deadline is 31 May. There is a $50 fee for grant consideration. Visit smithfund.org to find out more.

Verzasca FOTO Festival Awards // Deadline: 31 May // Entry fee: 20 Swiss Francs

Verzasca FOTO Festival is calling all photographers to submit their visual stories for exhibitions and screenings at this year’s festival, to be held from 29 July to 29 October in Sonogno, Switzerland. A cash prize of 2,000 Swiss Francs will also be granted to one overall winner. Applications must feature between 3 and 10 images from a personal photo story and the choice of theme is completely open.

All submissions will be reviewed by an independent jury featuring Eefje Ludwig (Independent photography consultant, curator and educator), Christophe Guye (Galerie Christophe Guye, Zurich), Eder Chiodetto (Curator, Museu de Arte Moderna, São Paulo), Simon Tanner (Photographer and President, VFG), Chiara Fanetti (Radio journalist, RSI -Swiss State Radio), Thyago Nogueira (Curator), Elisa von Randow (Art Director, ZUM Magazine, São Paulo), and Alfio Tommasini (Photographer and Art Director, Verzasca FOTO Festival). The deadline is 31 May and the participation fee is 20 Swiss Francs. Go to verzascafoto.com for more detailed information.

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ALSO OPEN THIS MONTH:

Void - Hunger Issue No. 3 Open Call // Deadline: 20 April // No entry fee

Independent publisher and educational platform, Void is calling for entries to the third issue of its publishing initiative, Hunger. Artists using the photographic medium are invited to submit a visual response to the theme, A Hunger Artist, an idea inspired by a Franz Kafka short story of the same name. Seven issues of the publication will be released, one every 6 weeks, with each containing two to three invited artists and one selected by Void’s editorial team through open calls. PHmuseum supports this initiative as a media partner and those artists participating in the project will also be presented as part of the PHmuseum online exhibition program in November 2018.

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Photo Meliggoi Residency // Deadline: 30 April // No entry fee

Partnered by PHmuseum, Photo Meliggoi has announced the open call for the second edition of its residency program, which offers one photographer the opportunity to spend 20 days in Meliggoi, Greece this coming July and a €500 grant. The selected artist will have to create a body of work in response to the cultural context of Meliggoi village and Dodoni province. Photometria International Photography Festival will produce an exhibition of the work realised during the residency for their next festival in 2019.

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Inge Morath Award // Deadline: 30 April // No entry fee

Founded by members of Magnum Photos in tribute to their colleague, Ingeborg Morath Miller, this $5,000 award is given to a female photographer under the age of 30 to support the completion of a long-term documentary project. One winner and up to two finalists will be selected by a jury composed of Magnum photographers and a representative of the Inge Morath Estate.

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Prix Levallois // Deadline: 2 May // No entry fee

Created back in 2008, Prix Levallois is a springboard for young artistic creation, looking to support artists under the age of 35 working with all forms of photographic expression. This year, a five-member judging panel featuring collector, Sherine Audi and curator, Héloïse Conesa will select three photographers for an exhibition at the Galerie L’Escale in Levallois, and one overall winner who will receive a €10,000 monetary endowment.

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Aaron Siskind Foundation Fellowship Grant // Deadline: 18 May // Entry fee: US$25

The Aaron Siskind Foundation, a non-profit organisation serving the photographic community, is offering a limited number of Individual Photographer's Fellowship grants of up to $10,000 each for artists working in photography and photo-based media. Awardees will be selected by an independent jury on the basis of artistic excellence, accomplishment to date, and the promise of future achievement in the industry.

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Howard Chapnick Grant // Deadline: 31 May // Entry fee: $25

Established in 1996 by the W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund, the Howard Chapnick Grant is now one of the leading awards dedicated to photography research. The $5,000 endowment may be used to finance any of a range of qualified undertakings, which could include a program of further education, research, a special long-term sabbatical project, or an internship to work with a noteworthy group or individual. The judges will give special consideration to initiatives, organisations or projects that promote social change and/or examine the crucial role of photojournalism in the twenty-first century.

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The FENCE // Deadline: 10 April // Entry fee: $45

The FENCE is a large-scale travelling photography exhibition passing through multiple cities across North America. Its aim is to share powerful visual storytelling with a diverse audience while providing photographers with a truly public platform and unique networking opportunities. In addition to the seven exhibitions in seven cities, prizes this year also include a $5,000 cash grant to support the production and development of visual projects, a Leica camera package plus complimentary access to a MasterClass of choice through the Leica Akademie, and promotion across various channels including the World Photography Organisation.

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LUMA Rencontres Dummy Book Award Arles 2018 // Deadline: 6 April // No entry fee

The LUMA Rencontres Dummy Book Award provides all professional photographers and artists with an opportunity to fund the production, publication, and promotion of a dummy photobook. The prize is endowed with a €25,000 production budget, including €3,000 for the author or authors, to cover all expenses incurred by the book’s creation (adjustment work, layout, printing, and binding).

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Every month we curate a list of what is coming up in the world of photography awards. Aimed at early, mid-career, and professional photographers, this list offers details of the most exciting opportunities. To stay up to date, subscribe to our newsletter by registering your email address in the space at the bottom of this page.

© Alex Kay Potter (2017 Women Photograph Grant winner)
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© Alex Kay Potter (2017 Women Photograph Grant winner)

© Pierfrancesco Celada, from the series Instagram Pier (2017 HappinessONTHEMOVE Award winner)
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© Pierfrancesco Celada, from the series Instagram Pier (2017 HappinessONTHEMOVE Award winner)

© Nicolás Janowski, from the series Adrift in Blue (2018 Pampa Energía FoLa Awards juror)
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© Nicolás Janowski, from the series Adrift in Blue (2018 Pampa Energía FoLa Awards juror)

© Matteo Bastianelli (2010 Canon Giovani Fotografi Award winner)
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© Matteo Bastianelli (2010 Canon Giovani Fotografi Award winner)

© Paula Bronstein (2017 Getty Images Reportage Grant recipient)
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© Paula Bronstein (2017 Getty Images Reportage Grant recipient)

© Daniel Garcia Castro (2017 W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography winner)
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© Daniel Garcia Castro (2017 W. Eugene Smith Grant in Humanistic Photography winner)

© Ettore Moni (exhibitor at Verzasca FOTO Festival in 2017)
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© Ettore Moni (exhibitor at Verzasca FOTO Festival in 2017)

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