V&A Parasol Foundation Prize for Women in Photography

Theme

• This year the V&A Parasol Prize for Women in Photography invites photographers to respond to the concept of ‘Unity’.
• They encourage submissions which explore how communities, individuals, and even nature come together to heal, reconcile, and find peaceful resolution.
• Photographers are encouraged to focus on stories of hope, collaboration, compassion, and the shared human experience.
• Images should reflect photography’s transformative qualities, showcasing contemporary imagery which transcends boundaries, mends division, and fosters harmony.

Prize

• Four artists included in a group exhibition at Peckham 24 festival, alongside accompanying events and public programming.
• International travel and two night’s accommodation expenses for exhibiting artists to attend the festival in London, in May 2025.
• Networking event with Prize selection committee and industry experts.
• Bursaries of £2000 for each exhibiting artist.
• Winning artists featured on the V&A and Peckham 24 social media channels and communications.

Eligibility Criteria

• Entrants must be over 18 years old.
• One entry per person.
• The V&A Parasol Foundation Prize for Women in Photography is open to all women and is trans-inclusive.
• Applications are welcome from international artists, both professionals and amateurs.
• Entry is via online portal only. They are unable to accept email or postal applications unless agreed by the V&A.
• Entrants should be singular artists. Applications from photographic duos, groups and artist collectives are currently not eligible.
• Entrants warrant that they are the creator of their images, that they own the entire copyright for each submitted work, and that they have the necessary permissions to submit images featuring third parties or their works.
• Entrants grant the V&A and Peckham 24 a non-exclusive license to reproduce their artwork for use in the V&A Parasol Foundation Prize for Women in Photography exhibition, and related online, social media and printed media publicity. Entrants will be credited.
• You may edit your entry after submitting, up until the entry deadline.
• You accept that the V&A will not be responsible for any loss or damage to submitted work.
• By registering an account and submitting your details, you agree to receive notifications and communication emails regarding the V&A Parasol Foundation Prize for Women in Photography.

Application Requirements

• Submissions must be photographic or lens-based media. Please note that they are currently unable to consider moving image, multimedia, VR, and installation-based submissions.
• Submissions will be considered from all forms of photographic art. This includes, but is not limited to, storytelling, narrative, social documentary, construction, archival, conceptual, research-based or theoretical practices.
• Work submitted must have been created in the last three years or since 2020.
• Work submitted should not have previously been exhibited in London.
• Images submitted can be shot using any camera model or electronic device.
• Applications are subject to the submission of a 20 image portfolio, artist statement, biography and a proposed installation layout. They will be unable to consider incomplete submissions or those which do not meet the Prize criteria.
• Winners must be able to supply high-res files for press and production requirements.

For more information, visit V&A.