April Photo Awards and Contests

Welcome to our extra long April guide to contests and grants for photographers!

There are many, many contests and grants closing this month, and as always, there is something for everyone in our curated list. If you’re a premium subscriber, you’ll be getting two emails of listings.

My picks for the month are below. Good luck!

CCFD-Terre Solidaire Photo Award 2025

About:

The CCFD-Terre Solidaire is launching the second edition of its International Photography Prize for Humanist and Environmental Photography, supported by Sebastião Salgado (Honorary President). This prize aims to bridge the worlds of NGO work and photography, using the power of images to encourage a deeper understanding of the world and inspire action towards a more solidaristic world. The theme for this year's edition is "Face the World," inviting documentary photographers to submit photo series that reflect on human and environmental challenges.

Prize

• Three Grants of €10,000 will be awarded.

• The Public Award will also be granted, along with an assignment.

Entry Fee and Deadline

• Final Deadline: April 30, 2025.

• Entry Fee: Free

Serendipity Arles Grant 2025

The Serendipity Arles Grant 2025 is a prestigious opportunity for South Asian lens-based practitioners to develop and showcase their projects. Supported by the Serendipity Arts Foundation and Les Rencontres d'Arles, this grant seeks to empower artists from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It encourages submissions in photography, video, new media, and other lens-based art forms. The selected finalists will have the chance to exhibit their work at the Les Rencontres d’Arles festival in France, one of the leading photography festivals globally. The grant is aimed at promoting cultural practices in the South Asian region and furthering regional cooperation and representation.

Prize

• Phase 1: Five shortlisted artists will each receive INR 70,000 to develop their work and showcase it at the Serendipity Arts Festival 2025 in Goa.

• Phase 2: One winning artist will receive a €7,500 project development grant and €7,000 for production support. They will also be awarded a solo show at Les Rencontres d'Arles 2026 in France, including:

  • €7,500 for project development and artist fee

  • €7,000 production support (disbursed by Les Rencontres d'Arles)

  • €1,200 for air travel (up to)

  • €500 for accommodation costs (disbursed directly to the hotel)

  • Visa facilitation fee (covered)

Entry Fee and Deadline

• Entry Fee: Free

• Deadline: April 18, 2025

• Eligibility: Open to South Asian practitioners from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, aged 30 years or older, with 5-10 years of practice. The applicant’s project must be a work-in-progress and should not have been exhibited in any form before the application.

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