2020 Focus on the Story Grant — Call for Proposals

Eligible Work: Photography projects completed within the past two years or currently in progress.
Opening Date: Thursday, May 7, 2020
Closing Date: 5 p.m. (ET), June 5, 2020
Grant Amount: $2,000 (US)

Focus on the Story is accepting proposals for its inaugural Focus on the Story Grant, which will be awarded to a visual storyteller who has recently completed or is in the process of completing a photography project that brings attention to a critical issue, bridges a cultural gap or  has the potential to spark social change.

Focus on the Story will award a grant of $2,000 to one visual storyteller for the purpose of helping them complete a project, reimburse expenses for a recently completed project or to help with costs related to exhibiting, publishing or promotion of the project. Members of the the Focus on the Story Advisory Council will sit as the jury. They will select the grant winner based on the strength of the grant application and submitted images.

Additionally, Focus on the Story will award a $500 prize to one applicant to recognize the “best single image” among those images submitted with the grant applications.

Applications Close June 5  • Winners announced in mid June

Images at top of page are the winner and runners up from the 2019 Focus on the Story Awards – Best Series. Credits from top right, clockwise: Alain Schroeder, Nicola Longobardi, Carmen Sayago (center), Alain Schroeder, Fabio Bucciarelli (winner).

Eligibility

This grant is available to any visual storyteller who has recently completed or is in the process of completing a photography project that brings attention to a critical issue, bridges a cultural gap or has the potential to spark social change. Completed projects are those that have been published (in printed or online form) for the first time between May 1, 2018 and May 1, 2020, or exhibited for the first time during the same period.

Applicants must apply as individuals. Business entities, collectives or organizations are not eligible.

By applying for this grant, you attest that you have full authorization to enter the submitted images i.e. you took the images and own the copyright.

Selection Process

The Focus on the Story jury will select the grant winner based on three criteria 1) how well the project fulfills the mission of Focus on the Story i.e. it shines a light on a critical issue, bridges a cultural gap or has the potential to spark social change. 2)  the strength of the submitted images 3) what impact the grant might have on the applicant’s ability to complete or advance the project.

This open call for proposals begins on May 7, 2020 and closes at 5 p.m. (ET), June 5, 2020.

Focus on the Story expects to announce the grant winner during the month of June.

Conditions of Funding

The Focus on the Story Grant is awarded for the purpose of helping a visual storyteller complete a project, reimburse expenses for a recently completed project or to help with post-completion expenses, such as costs related to exhibiting, publication or promotion of the project.

The grant will be disbursed in two phases:

• 50 percent of the award will be paid within 30 days of the selection announcement.
• The remaining 50 percent of the award will be paid upon presentation of the completed or ongoing work to the Focus on the Story community, either in an in-person presentation or through a live, interactive webinar. Focus on the Story will work with the winner to organize and schedule the presentation. Presentations should be completed no later than one year from the date of the grant award.

The award for “Best Single Image” will be paid within 30 days of the award announcement.

Rights and Usage of the Work

• Applicants agree that Focus on the Story may publish their submitted images on its websites and social media networks, and they grant Focus on the Story the right to use their submitted image(s) in promotional materials related to the Focus on the Story Grant. All images used in this way will, whenever possible, be duly credited to you.
• If your proposal is selected as the grant winner and/or your image is selected as the “Best Single Image,” you give Focus on the Story a non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free license to publish your image in its festival catalog, which may be either a soft or hardcover book or magazine published and potentially sold by Focus on the Story. You also grant Focus on the Story the right to potentially print and exhibit your work at its annual festival.
• Applicants remain the owner of all rights to submitted images, including all copyrights.
• You waive any right to bring any claim against Focus on the Story on the grounds that its use of your images, as outlined above, constitutes an infringing or otherwise unauthorized use under the laws of any jurisdiction in which your photographs are published under this license.

Please direct any questions to info@focusonthestory.org.