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Social Documentary Photography Grant 2018


MurthyNAYAK Foundation, Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communications  MurthyNAYAK Foundation, Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communications  MurthyNAYAK Foundation, Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communications  MurthyNAYAK Foundation, Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communications  MurthyNAYAK Foundation, Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communications 
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In a world plagued with political and religious conflict, environmental tragedies and grave socio-economic disparity, the genre of social documentary photography is more relevant than ever before. Our country is facing its own set of challenges and issues that need to be chronicled. Rather than simply accepting problems, stepping over them, or averting our eyes, solutions can be discussed and strategies formulated when they are acknowledged. It is paramount for all of us as world citizens to spur into action and create work that reflects our concerns. With this objective in mind, The MurthyNAYAK Foundation (MNF) in association with Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts and Communications (SACAC) is initiating a grant of INR 2,00,000 to be given to an Indian Photographer under the age of 35 years working on a socially relevant theme.

Some of the possible concerns for submissions to this grant could be environmental/ecological disasters, political and religious conflict, socio-economic disparity, agrarian distress, gender & LGBTQ issues, displacement, migration etc. The grant will be given to further ongoing projects

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

  • 1. The awards are open to only Indian Photographers residing in India under the age of 35.
  • 2. The awards are for ongoing projects and not completed bodies of work.
  • 3. Applicants must not hold any other fellowship/grant for the proposed project when applying.
  • 4. The grant money has to be utilized in making the work.
  • 5. The proposed project should fall within the genre of social documentary photography.

TIMELINE
June 30th, 2018: Deadline for Submission of the project proposal.
July 2018: The Jury sits and reviews the proposals.
August, 2018 – July, 2019: The awardees are announced and given a 12-month period to produce work.
December, 2018 & April , 2019 : Mid-term review to see progress made in the work.
August, 2019: The awardees submit the final set of 20 – 25 photographs.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Project Statement & Biography:

  • 1. The Artist Statement should not exceed 500 words. In this, the applicant should articulate their intentions and define the scope and reach of the project.
  • 2. The applicant should clearly mention the stage their project has reached and why it needs financial support to conclude it.
  • 3. The applicant must mention the exposure, if at all, this project has received across social media platforms and online magazines.
  • 4. Please submit a biography of 100-150 words in a separate document.
  • 5. Please submit 3 copies each of the artist statement & the biography.
  • 6. All written documents must be submitted in typed format (not handwritten) on A4 sheets of paper.

Photographic Prints with Captions/Titles

  • 1. Applicants must demonstrate evidence of their photographic ability by submitting 10 to 15 photographic prints, 12 inches on the longer side.
  • 2. The photographic prints must be from the project for which the application is made. Submission of any other prints will make the grant application ineligible.
  • 3. The photographic prints must be labeled using a sticker on the reverse. The labels must carry the following information: Name of applicant; Working Title of Project; Caption/Title of Photographic Print; Location; Date; Serial number/Order of sequence.
  • 4. Applicants must submit a separate document that contains the following information about each image: caption/title, location, date.

Please send the application form and all submissions to:

Department of Photography, Sri Aurobindo Centre for Arts (SACAC)
Sri Aurobindo Society Campus,
Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg,
Adchini, New Delhi 110017

No material will be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed envelope with return postage. SACAC is not responsible for loss of or damage to any submitted material. The deadline for receipt of all submissions for the first cycle of the awards is June 30th, 2018.

INFORMATION FOR THE RECIPIENT OF THE GRANT
Upon being informed that he/she has been selected to receive the grant, the grant recipient must confirm in writing that the proposed photography project is an ongoing project, and that it has not received any other grants/awards in the past. While this is a material condition of the application process itself, this additional confirmation in writing is expected by the MurthyNAYAK Foundation (MNF).

The grant recipient must agree to complete the project within 12 months of receiving the first installment of the grant. The grant will be provided in installments, based on the submission of a budget.

On completion of the project, the grant recipient will provide MNF with 10 archival edition prints (size 10” x 12” minimum ) along with their digital files (size 100 dpi, 8” x12”). The grant recipient will provide SACAC with 10 digital files (size 100 dpi, 8” x12”). The prints and their digital files will be archived for public viewing in the years to come. The grant recipient will also give permission to MNF and SACAC to reproduce the images for publicity in their catalogue and promotional use.