October's Grants and Awards

Keep up with all the latest opportunities to promote and fund your projects with our October awards guide, featuring the PHM 2017 Women Photographers Grant and the FotoEvidence Book Award with World Press Photo, among many more.

PHM 2017 Women Photographers Grant

The first PHM Grant for women photographers aims to empower the work and careers of female and female-identifying professionals of all ages and from all countries working in diverse areas of photography. It further means to facilitate the growth of the new generations and promote stories narrated from a female perspective, while responding to the necessity to fight against gender discrimination within the industry.

Prizes include £8,000 in cash, a projection at Photo Vogue Festival 2017, a workshop at Latvia’s International Summer School of Photography in 2018, a solo exhibition at Organ Vida Photography Festival, four publications on YET magazine, and a nomination for World Press Photo’s 2018 Joop Swart Masterclass. Applications will be reviewed by an international jury featuring Donna Ferrato (Photographer), Alessia Glaviano (Senior photo editor for Vogue Italia and L’Uomo Vogue and Web Editor of Vogue.it), Rebecca McClelland (Director of Photography, Art Buyer and Creative Director) and Daniella Zalcman (Photographer, Founder of womenphotograph.com).

The submission deadline is 12 October. Entry fee: £25. Learn more and apply at phmuseum.com/grant.

FotoEvidence Book Award with World Press Photo

The annual FotoEvidence Book Award recognises one photographer demonstrating determination and bravery in the pursuit of social justice. “The selected project is published as part of a FotoEvidence series of photobooks dedicated to the work of photographers, whose commitment and courage deliver painful truths, creating awareness of unacceptable violations of human dignity” say the award organisers.

One winner and two finalists will showcase their selected projects during the 2018 World Press Photo Exhibition in Amsterdam, in conjunction with the book launch. In addition, the book will feature in the World Press Photo travelling exhibition, which tours 100 cities worldwide, and FotoEvidence will also present the work of both the winner and the finalists at the 2018 FotoEvidence Book Award exhibit at the Bronx Documentary Center in New York.

Submissions must be received by midnight (EST) on 15 December. $50 entry fee. Find out more at fotoevidence.com.

Luis Valtueña International Humanitarian Photography Award

For the 21st consecutive year, Doctors of the World - Médicos del Mundo (MdM-Spain) has launched the Luis Valtueña International Humanitarian Photography Award: a prize that strives to raise awareness of the realities facing vulnerable communities suffering from human rights abuses across the world. The award was created as a tribute to Luis Valtueña, Flors Sirera, Manuel Madrazo, and Mercedes Navarro, all of whom were Doctors of the World aid workers who died while performing their duties. “Their memory serves to ensure that each year victims of injustice are brought to light. Give them a voice through your gaze” challenge the coordinators.

The competition is open to adult amateur and professional photographers of any nationality, and submissions must be related to any of the following themes: humanitarian action, international cooperation, social exclusion, human rights violations, armed conflicts, natural disasters, refugee and immigrant populations, or socially excluded groups. Only photos taken between January 2016 and October 2017, which have not been previously entered, will be accepted.

The winner will receive a grant of €6,000 to develop a photography project composed of at least 50 photos and a 30 minute video related to the work of MdM-Spain, whether in Spain or in other countries where the organisation is undertaking humanitarian action or international cooperation programs. Entries can be submitted at any time until midnight 10 November (GMT+2). Visit medicosdelmundo.es for further information.

democraSEE

Organised by Photo: - an art platform based in South Africa - democraSEE is an award and mentorship program that aims to develop and support contemporary photographic stories from the Southern African region dealing with social and political issues.

“The urgent shift in our understanding of our worlds, democracies and identities is reflected and shaped by the multiplicities of photography and how photography functions within our contexts” writes the award director, John Fleetwood. Built on the idea that photography projects often entail collaborative processes, this award offers emerging and mid-career photographers an opportunity to develop an existing or new body of work with the support of a mentor-curator. Only photographers from Southern Africa, including Angola, DRC, Tanzania and Madagascar are eligible to apply.

The prizes include a R40,000 (US$3,000) grant, and critique sessions with appointed subject and practice experts. The photographer will have at least one session with a larger panel of professionals at Photo: in Johannesburg, offering a chance to receive feedback on the conceptual premise, approach and manifestation of the body of the work. Photo: will also, in consultation with the successful candidate, appoint a writer who will work on a text to augment the body of work. The submission deadline is 10 October. Find out more at democrasee.photography.

The Anamorphosis Prize

The Anamorphosis Prize was established back in 2015 as a platform to promote excellence and dialogue in the field of self-published photobooks and photo-based artist books. Deriving from the Greek words “ana”, meaning again, and “morphe”, meaning form, “anamorphosis” refers to a distortion that demands a change in perspective from the viewer in order to be properly and completely viewed. This can be interpreted today as a whole new way of looking at things and is the premise on which the award was founded.

A jury comprised of Anouk Kruithof (artist), Amanda de la Garza Mata (curator, art historian, and poet), and John A. Phelan (collector) will select one winner to receive the US$10,000 prize. All submitted books will be donated to Franklin Furnace and the shortlist of 20 books will also be included in the MoMA library. Entries must be received by 1 November. More information can be found at anamorphosisprize.com.

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ALSO OPEN THIS MONTH:

9th Carmignac Photojournalism Award

Fondation Carmignac created the Carmignac Photojournalism Award in 2009 with the aim of funding and promoting an investigative photo report on human rights violations each year. In this, the 9th edition, one winner will receive a €50,000 grant to produce an in-depth, in-the-field photographic essay dedicated to the threats facing the Arctic. Deadline: 15 October.

Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship

Made possible through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the National Geographic Society, the Fulbright-National Geographic Storytelling Fellowship offers an opportunity for U.S. citizens to participate in an academic year of overseas travel and storytelling in one, two, or three countries, with the aim of documenting a globally significant issue. Deadline: 6 October.

Gomma Grant

The Gomma Grant is an international competition that aims to sustain the practice of photographers through cash endowments and other supportive initiatives. This year, a jury comprised of Caroline Hunter (The Guardian), Diane Smyth (BJP), Enrico Stefanelli (PhotoLux Festival), Joao Linneu (VOID), Luca Desienna (Gomma), Peggy Sue Amison (East Wing), and Stephane Charpenter (TempsZero) will award a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize, worth €1000, €500, and €100 respectively. Deadline: 31 October.

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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.