The Project Launch is granted to an outstanding photographer working on a fine art series or documentary project. The grant includes a cash award to help complete or disseminate the works, as well as providing a platform for exposure and professional development opportunities.This grant is awarded to complete or nearly completed projects that would benefit from the grant award package.
General Guidelines
Submit
// $45 members / $55 non-members
// 15-20 images from a complete or nearly complete body of work
// Project Statement limited to 325 words
ELIGIBLE WORK
Work derived from all photographic processes are accepted, as well as mixed media work that is photo-based (only still images are accepted except for the Producer’s Choice category which accepts multimedia). Images can have been made at any time and work that has been submitted previously may be re-submitted.
See our Project Launch FAQ page for more information.
GRANT ELIGIBILITY
If a project has been part of a major metropolitan museum one or two person exhibition, published in book form by a major photographic publishing house with a print run of 2,000 or more; and/or the photographer is represented by a major international photographic agency they are ineligible for the Project Launch and Project Development Grants. The grant funds may be used for most expenses related to the project. Please be aware that no funds in addition to the $5,000 are available for exhibition or travel expenses to Santa Fe. However, you may use the $5,000 for those expenses. The cash award is the total amount dispersed.
Project Development Grant is for a WORK-IN-PROGRESS. Project Launch Grant is for a COMPLETED or nearly completed body of work. Photographic projects that may be a work in progress but may also be considered as a cohesive body of work. You may choose to submit to both the Project Launch and Project Development Grant. However, if the situation arises that the project is awarded from one grant, it would be disqualified from the other.
Grant recipients will be required to sign a contract and must fulfill contractual obligations in order to receive full funds. A grant report will be due at the end of the contract. Submission to the Project Launch and/or Project Development Grant indicates acceptance of the terms.
If you have a question about your eligibility for an award or grant, please email programs@visitcenter.org before submitting your application.
IMAGE FORMAT
All images must be uploaded through our online system. Files must be in jpg, sized 1400 pixels on the longest side. Files must be 500kb or smaller in size, with a minimum dpi of 72.
FILE NAMES & ORDERING YOUR IMAGES
Begin the filename with a lower-case alphabetical letter. Include the title in the filename after the letter and underscore. (Ex: a_Title.jpg, b_Title.jpg, c_Title.jpg).
FAQs
Q: WHEN IS THE DEADLINE?
A: January 30, 2018 for discounted entry fees and February 28, 2018 final deadline.
Q: WHERE DO I APPLY?
A: You will apply on our online application.
CRITERIA & THE JURY PROCESS
Q: WHAT ARE THE SELECTION CRITERIA?
A: 1) The images, as well as all submitted text, should be examples of excellence within the discipline, both visually and conceptually.
2) The grant winners should be at a place in their work and career where they can benefit from the exposure, networks, and opportunities that CENTER offers.
3) The photographer must be committed and able to ensure the advancement of the project with the grant funds and support received.
Q: DO YOU “PRE-SCREEN”?
A: No, all work submitted is seen by each of the jurors.
Q: WHAT ARE JURORS LOOKING FOR?
A: The jurors are looking for cohesive, compelling bodies of work that are ready for international recognition.
Q: HOW IMPORTANT IS MY PROJECT STATEMENT?
A: The project statement is very important and it will often move a submission forward in the judging or conversely, a poorly executed statement will eliminate the project.
Q: WHAT SHOULD THE STATEMENT ADDRESS?
A: The statement should address the “why” more than the “what.” For example, address why you decided to photograph the subject and what your photographs are meant to convey. You should also indicate the process and medium used.
Q: WILL I RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON THE WORK?
A: Due to the number of submissions the committee is unable to provide specific feedback but we will let you know if the work advances to the higher rounds of judging.
Q: IS THERE A TIME LIMIT WITHIN WHICH THE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN?
A: No, you may submit any photograph regardless of the date it was taken.
Q: MAY I SEND MY BOOK, POSTER, EXHIBITION ANNOUNCEMENT, ETC.?
A: Websites, books, posters, announcements and other materials will not seen by the judges and will not be reviewed.
Q: CAN WE APPLY AS A DUO OR GROUP?
A: Yes, please use one artists name and information on the application, and in your project statement note that this is a collaboration and include all names. Please note that winners will receive one slot at Review Santa Fe, so the group would sit together in front of each reviewer.
APPLICATION FAQS
DIGITAL FILES
All images must be uploaded through our online system. Files must be in jpg, sized 1400 pixels on the longest side. Files should be 500kb or smaller in size, with a minimum dpi of 72.
Q: WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY IMAGE SIZE IS TOO LARGE?
A: Use a jpg quality level of 10 or high when saving. If you follow these guidelines, the size of your images will typically fall between 100-500k when it is closed. When the image is opened the file might be larger than 500k and that is acceptable.
Q: WHY DO MY IMAGES NOT HAVE THE CORRECT COLOR OR CONTRAST AND LOOK VERY SMALL ON APPLICATION?
A: Once you have uploaded your images to online application, you are now viewing them through an internet browser which does not recognize color profiles. Your images are unaltered by this process.
TITLES
Q: HOW DO I TITLE & ORDER MY IMAGES?
A: Begin the filename with a lower-case alphabetical letter. Include the title in the filename after the letter and underscore. (Ex: a_Title.jpg, b_Title.jpg, c_Title.jpg).
PROJECT STATEMENTS
The first sentence of your project statement should include a short synopsis of the project. Please limit your statement to 325 words, and indicate the process or medium used and the final exhibition dimensions, ex. 8×10 black and white negative, 20×24 gelatin silver prints, or 35mm slides.
Q: WHERE DO I UPLOAD MY STATEMENT?
A: You will upload your artist statement on our online application form.
Q: DO I HAVE TO SUBMIT THE AMOUNT OF IMAGES PER THE GUIDELINES?
A: We will not disqualify entries that have less than the specified amount (15-20). However, do keep in mind that submitting fewer images may put you at a disadvantage.
Q: MAY I ENTER TWO OR MORE BODIES OF WORK?
A: Yes, you can submit more than once, just fill out another application.
Q: MAY I ENTER THE SAME BODY OF WORK THAT I DID LAST YEAR?
A: Yes, each year the selection committee is different.
Q: MAY I ENTER WORK THAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED IN A MAGAZINE?
A: You may submit work that has been published in a magazine to Project Launch.
Q: MAY I COMBINE BLACK AND WHITE AND COLOR IMAGES INTO ONE BODY OF WORK?
A: Yes.
Q: WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY PROCESS OR MEDIUM?
A: Examples – C-print, Archival digital print, Selenium-toned gelatin-silver print, digital image, and mixed media.
Q: TO WHICH DIMENSIONS ARE YOU REFERRING?
A: The dimensions of the final product. For instance, if you print 20″x24″ Cibachrome and are submitting 8″x10″ digital prints please indicate the final version of the work.
If you have additional questions, please see our General Guidelines page or contact us at programs@visitcenter.org
Terms & Conditions
Who Can Enter
The Awards, Grants and Review Santa Fe are open to all photographers, national and international. CENTER employees, board members, advisory council members, contest sponsors, and family members of the aforementioned may not apply to the awards and grants. Previous CENTER cash award winners may enter but are ineligible to win first, second, third, or Juror’s Choice again for up to 3 years. Honorable Mention and finalists may enter and are eligible to win.
USAGE
Photographer retains all rights the images. By completing the application, the photographer grants CENTER permission to reproduce works from their submitted materials in connection with the administration, judging and promotion of CENTER, the CENTER Awards, Grants and portfolio review events. Permissible uses of the images submitted shall include their reproduction, distribution and display in CENTER exhibitions, multimedia presentations, and printed materials related to promotion of CENTER and the CENTER Awards and events. CENTER shall have the right to grant permissions to the press and publicity agents in connection with the promotion of the CENTER Awards, exhibitions, and related events. All Grant recipients, including the Juror’s Choice as well as the winners of the CENTER’s Choice Awards are asked to donate a print to CENTER. Submission of an entry to these awards, grants or portfolio review, signifies acceptance of all conditions stated.
Sarah Hermanson Meister, Curator, Department of Photography, The Museum of Modern Art
