The Audience Engagement Grant supports photographers to take an existing body of work on a human rights or social justice issue and develop an innovative and effective way of using that work as a tool for social change.
The Audience Engagement Grant is looking for projects which serve as intervention on crucial problems and offer constructive ways for organizations, photographers and their target audiences to create a positive impact.
The Audience Engagement Grant is interested in well-designed projects that:
- Inspire audiences visually and create meaningful interactions with photographic content
- Utilize photography as the basis for programming or tools that directly connect people to processes that lead to social change
- Provide deeper, more nuanced understanding of human rights and social justice issues
- Pairs photographers with organizations that are connected to the target audience and currently working on related issues
Eligibility Criteria:
Proposed projects should include the following elements:
- Partners: The Audience Engagement Grant supports photographers who are partnering with organizations on collaborative projects. Each project partner should have the skills and track record to realize the project and must commit time and resources to implement it. Partnership should include:
- Photographer or Curator/Project Organizer, whose expertise is in the production or presentation of documentary photography
- Audience Engagement Partner(s), with expertise in a specific issue and already connected to the target audience
- OPTIONAL: Distribution Partner with expertise in the dissemination or presentation method
We are seeking projects that include the following:
An existing body of compelling photographs that documents a human rights or social justice issue. Preference will be given to projects that address issues and geographical areas of concern to the Open Society Foundations.
- Effective and innovative ideas for using photography to spark deeper engagement with a particular community on a social justice or human rights issue
- Well-designed dissemination strategies that are uniquely tailored to meet the needs and interests of a target audience
- A detailed plan for engaging targeted audiences in concrete ways
The Audience Engagement Grant will offer between five to eight grants ranging from $10,000 to $30,000. Grant funds cannot be used to shoot new imagery. When selected projects closely align with the work of the Open Society Foundations, we will facilitate contact with relevant foundation staff and grantees.
Important deadlines:
Optional Letter of Intent: May 31, 2012, 5:00 pm EST
Full Application: June 28, 2012, 5:00 pm EST
For further information, visit the link.
