Overview
The W. Eugene Smith Grant is presented annually to a photographer or multimedia artist to help begin a project or complete an ongoing body of work. The judges will be looking for a proposed project that will use compelling photojournalism and documentary photography (possibly supplemented by multi-media) to address an issue related to the human condition: social change, humanitarian concern, armed conflict, or other topics of interpersonal, psychological, cultural, social, environmental, scientific, medical and/or political significance, ideally expressing an underlying acknowledgement of our common humanity.
Reward
For 2024, the amount of the W. Eugene Smith Grant is $30,000. In addition, two $10,000 Finalist Grant will be awarded. Applicant also understands and agrees that if applicant is the recipient of the Grant, $24,000 will be paid upon receipt of the Grant, and $6000 will be paid upon receipt of twelve (12) digital images and twelve (12) prints within eighteen (18) months after receipt of the Grant. The Finalist Grants will pay $8,000 upon receipt of the grant and $2,000 will be paid upon receipt of twelve (12) digital images within eighteen (18) months after receipt of the Grant. Recipients must submit a final report detailing how the grant was used and how the money contributed to the success of the project.
Eligibility
Everyone over the age of 18 is eligible to apply, regardless of nationality, gender, experience etc.
Application Requirements
A biography up to 1500 characters (spaces included). A CV, up to 2000 characters (spaces included), is optional and can instead be submitted as a PDF of unlimited length.
Project description: a concise synopsis or summary of the project. This outline should be brief but comprehensive. Ideally, the project will be journalistically realizable, visually translatable, and humanistically driven. The description should not exceed 2000 characters (spaces included).
Project proposal: go into greater detail, describing the practical aspects of the applicant's plan. It should explain how the applicant will use the Smith Grant funds to launch or complete the project. The proposal should not exceed 3000 characters (spaces included).
Images: Applicants can submit up to 40 images total. These should consist of representative images from the project being proposed to the W. Eugene Smith Fund. Or, if a new project, the applicant can include in their submission past work clearly marked as such, that represents the candidate’s vision and their ability to execute the project being proposed to the fund.
