CENTER Santa Fe Is Seeking Projects To Support Through Funding, Shows, And More

Open until March 15, CENTER Santa Fe's open calls offer a Project Development Grant, a Project Launch Grant, and multiple awards and opportunities aimed at expanding the photographic canon.

Established in 1994 in New Mexico, CENTER Santa Fe has supported lens-based projects with a social and environmental focus through funding, education, public platforms, partnerships and exhibitions for over three decades. In 2025, CENTER is providing plenty of opportunities for artists and educators including $16,000 in funding, publications, access to seminars and more. Moreover, all of the award and grant recipients will receive the opportunity to have their works exhibited in a group show in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Their works will be up during the Review Santa Fe Photo Symposium, so that the participants and all of the reviewers will have an opportunity to see it. Executive director at CENTER Santa Fe Laura Wzorek Presley says:

At CENTER, we know how challenging it can be to sustain projects from conception to distribution and so we help support the life of projects through The Project Development Grant, mentorships, the Review Santa Fe professional development program, publications, and exhibitions.

This year, applicants can submit their works in the following categories:

The Project Launch Grant offers a $5,000 grant to those with complete or nearly completed documentary projects or fine art series, giving them the boost to share their artistic vision with the world. This edition's judge is Keith W. Jenkins, Vice President of Visuals and Music Strategy at National Public Radio. Last year's award went to the Austin Bryant for the Where They Still Remain project which focuses on the African American and Wampanoag indigenous communities who have coexisted for hundreds of years on the island of Martha’s Vineyard.

The Project Development Grant provides $5,000 in funding to support artists with ongoing fine art, documentary, or photojournalistic projects. It is designed to help creators further develop their work while also offering professional development seminars and public presentation opportunities. In 2024, the awarded photographer was Sara Abbaspour with Transitional Realms, a photography series capturing the fluid interplay between vulnerability, identity, and socio-political change.

Aimed at amplifying unheard voices and sharing marginalized stories, the Me&Eve Award provides $1,000 in financial support to a female or LGBTQIA2S+ photographer 40 years of age and over. The last edition’s winning project Merging Dimensions by Anna Reed explores intimate relations between the body and machines questioning the boundaries between them. This year's jury is Leonor Mamanna, Deputy Photo Director at Bloomberg Businessweek / Pursuits.

Laura Wzorek Presley adds:

Sharing our truths right now is more important than ever. We want to offer opportunities to share and discuss untold stories and have pressing dialogues about vulnerable communities and ecosystems. At CENTER, we explore the question - How can we expand the photographic canon to illuminate unexamined stories and underrepresented communities?

The Multimedia Award recognizes storytellers who use visual media like photography, video, installation, web-based works, and other lens-based art forms to create compelling narrative-driven projects. Projects that inspire social action, document crucial issues, and amplify underrepresented voices are welcome. Besides the opportunity to present their work at a group exhibition in CENTER, winners receive admission to Review Santa Fe, access to Professional Development Seminars, publication within LENSCRATCH and even more. Among previous winners, there are Food Chain by Dan Fenstermacher (2022), Los Olvidados by Harvey Castro (2023) or last year's Hidden Histories of San Antonio by Robert Pluma.

CENTER goes beyond simply providing funding by building community through the Review Santa Fe Photo Symposium, a juried portfolio review planned for November 1-3, 2025, in Santa Fe. This event allows photographers to network with leading photography professionals, get valuable critiques of their work, and make important contacts. The reviewers are internationally acclaimed experts from diverse areas of the photography world, including museums, galleries, publishers and editors such as Skye Battles (Photo Editor, WIRED), Daniel George (Submissions Editor & Contributing Writer, LENSCRATCH), Jessie Wender (Photo Editor, The New York Times), and Brittany Corrales (Curator, Arizona State University Art Museum), among others. For non-participating photographers and photo enthusiasts, Review Santa Fe includes a public exposition and photographic book fair, scholar lectures, and more networking programs throughout the weekend of events.

In addition, artists can currently apply for three different categories within the CENTER Awards. The Personal Award recognizes work engaging in the exploration and expression of the power of self-representation and/or underrepresented experiences. The Socially Engaged Award recognizes work addressing social issues. And finally, The Environmental Award recognizes work focusing on the state of the ecological environment. The jury for the CENTER Awards includes: Pauline Vermare (Curator of Photography at the Brooklyn Museum), Andrea Wise (Photo Editor, Art Director, and Visual Producer at ProPublica) and Alice Gabriner (Consulting Director of The Center for Contemporary Documentation).

What is CENTER looking for in submissions, and how can applicants take the most out of the process? Laura Wzorek Presley replies:

Projects can be elevated, or relegated, depending on the written statements. If the applicant isn’t a strong writer, I would recommend checking with an editor or someone who can help. Give as much context as possible, such as where is this happening in the world and what is happening now that is different than before. Are there data, maps, or historical information that can help the viewer understand the topic? If so, use them.

Except for the opportunities for artists, CENTER Santa Fe offers programs specifically designed for educators. Callanan Excellence in Teaching Award reflects the institution's dedication to the community and acknowledges the role of education in individual and collective growth. The award honors high school, college or postgraduate teachers who need to be nominated by their student(s) or colleague(s) to be considered. The winner will receive a financial support of $5,000, access to Professional Development Seminars, and inclusion in CENTER’s annual printed Program Guide. Furthermore, they'll be invited to participate in the Review Sante Fe Symposium. In 2025, the award recipient will be selected by Kathleen Sanker (Artist, Photographer, and Professor of Art at St. Charles Community College) who was the winner of last year's edition.

For over 30 years, CENTER Santa Fe has significantly supported the photography world, positively impacting the lives and careers of more than 2,100 photographers through various programs. A key part of their history is the Alumni Archives, a collection that truly represents their photography community. Annually, an independent juror chooses photographers whose work demonstrates innovation and artistic exploration, contributing to the development of photography itself.

Discover all the opportunities and apply now.