Photoworks are pleased to launch a new opportunity in collaboration with The Ampersand Foundation for a mid-career photographer living in the UK. The Ampersand/Photoworks Fellowship will provide a transformative opportunity for a mid-career artist to complete a new body of work.
Whilst many opportunities exist for emerging and graduate photographers including our own Jerwood/Photoworks Awards, the UK currently has few high-profile open access opportunities for mid-career photographers that support artists to make and exhibit new work. This new opportunity aims to enable and nurture the creation of new work through a combination of support including a £15,000 award, mentoring and curatorial support, a dedicated public programme and digital content with international reach, production budget and touring exhibition.
The artist will be selected through a free open call; submissions open Monday 11 January and close midnight Sunday 28 February. We are looking for projects which are already in the development phase that will benefit from financial resources and curatorial guidance and which can be completed in a 12 month timeframe.
The shortlist and final selection of the fellowship awardee will be decided by an expert panel of curators and artists to be announced shortly.
The awardee will make new work over a period of approximately 12 months throughout 2021 ready to be exhibited by Photoworks in 2022. The entire programme, including the resulting exhibition, will be curated and produced by Photoworks in collaboration with partner touring venues.
This new opportunity is generously funded by The Ampersand Foundation and supported by our print partner Spectrum Photographic. Photoworks is a registered charity and part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio.
Key dates:
28 February 2021 – Deadline for applications
15 March 2021 – Longlist candidates notified
22 March 2021 – Shortlist candidates notified and Interviewed
31 March 2021 – Awardee announced
1 April 2021 to March 2022 – Making period, public programme and digital content
From mid 2022 – Exhibition
How to apply:
1. Applications should be submitted via the platform Picter. You will need to create a Picter account and begin your application for the Ampersand/Photoworks Fellowship by filling in your personal details. This portal will be open shortly.
2. Please answer the following three questions and upload to Picter as a Pdf.
- Please give an overview of your project (Max 500 words)
- How would your project ideally be exhibited? (Max 250 words)
- How would this opportunity be transformative for your career? How would it help you make the step change that you need? (Max 250 words)
3. Submit up to 15 images. These can be work in progress images from the project you are pitching or examples of previous work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply?
Applications are accepted via the platform Picter. It’s free to make an account and to enter.
When is the deadline?
Deadline is midnight CET, Sunday 28 February.
What do you mean by mid-career artist?
We see mid-career to mean people who have more than 10 years of experience to date. This is self-defined, and it is up to each applicant to determine if they are mid-career.
Is there an age restriction?
No, there is no age limit or age restriction.
Who will be looking at my application?
Your application will be viewed by a jury of curators and artists that will be announced shortly.
Is this opportunity right for me?
This opportunity is for artists who are looking for financial and mentoring support to finish a body of work. Someone who is looking for the next step in their career, perhaps to secure their first major institutional show. They should be enthusiastic about the range of associated support such as mentoring, curatorial support and the creation of digital legacy content.
What do you mean by ‘the project should be in the development phase’?
We expect that you are well into the research and development phase of the project and have tested the idea to see if it is a viable project. You may have done some test shoots already or are in the final stages of planning. Or you may have a long term project which is coming to an end and need financial support or curatorial guidance to finish the project.
We will be updating the FAQ’s regularly so please check back for further information.
