Nominations open for Viviane Esders Prize 2024 – Europe

Each year the Prix Viviane Esders honours the achievement of a professional European photographer (European Community, United Kingdom, Switzerland) over sixty years of age, who is independent and still active. It rewards a career that has already been recognised, but whose importance now deserves to be brought to light and to be included more clearly in the history of photography. The candidate must not be represented by an agency or a collective. He or she can be represented by a gallery (note:  a gallery can only co-opt one photographer among its artists).

The prize is awarded to a photographer who has been working for 40 years, and who has a personal style and artistic approach.  Preference will be given to entries presenting a questioning approach to the image, a singular style of non-documentary reflection and a strong commitment.

The prize is particularly aimed at photographers who need financial support to continue their work.

The jury, chaired by Viviane Esders and made up of French and European personalities from the world of photography and culture, will select 3 nominated photographers who will benefit from special visibility. The winner will be chosen from among the 3 nominees.

Funding Information

• The winner will receive €50,000, of which €10,000 will go towards publishing a book to be published no later than December 31, 2025. The 2 other nominated photographers each receive a €5,000 prize.

Eligibility Criteria

• The call for entries is open to professional photographers over 60 years of age, Euro pean, independent, not represented by an agency or a gallery in 2024.
• The prize will focus on the photographer’s artistic and creative approach, both on a narrative, aesthetic an technical level.  A note of intent should explain the application by highlighting the usefulness of this grant to extend his work (archive management, retrospective project, production support, etc.).
• The applicant must be:
  • Over 60 years old in the year of application
  • An independent photographer with a proven track record of at least 30 years
  • Active and not represented by an agency or a collective in the civil year of application
  • Of European nationality.

For more information, visit Viviane Esders Prize.