The International College of Photography has announced it will award four research-creation grants this year, each valued at 8,000 euros, with support from France's Ministry of Culture and the NeuflizeOBC Corporate Foundation for Visual Arts. The grants are designed to preserve, experiment with, and disseminate photographic expertise while encouraging contemporary photographers to explore the rich history of their medium.
While photography's history has become an established research field for modern photographers, organizers say it is too often limited to historical processes when it could encompass a much broader scope. The grants aim to inspire works that explore images, figures, practices, objects, events, and ideas, creating diverse retrospective projects ranging from documentary to experimental approaches. These works are not restricted to pre-digital processes but can also incorporate current techniques, including artificial intelligence.
This year's edition has special significance as it anticipates the bicentenary of Nicéphore Niépce's invention of photography in France, which will be celebrated in 2026-2027. The research-creation grants specifically encourage retrospective works that explicitly reference the pioneers and inventors of photography's early days, focusing on the period from 1820 to 1850. Projects must develop some form of reflection on this crucial period of French photographic invention.
The competition is open to candidates residing or working in France, including its overseas territories. Grant recipients will receive ongoing support throughout the year as they develop their projects. All application materials must be submitted in PDF format, with files not exceeding 70 MB, and must be received before the December 31, 2025 deadline.
Applicants must submit a comprehensive package including a presentation of their artistic practice limited to 200 words, a detailed project proposal for the research-creation grant of no more than 400 words, a portfolio showcasing their work, and a biography of approximately 200 words along with a current CV. Organizers emphasize that any project failing to explicitly address the proposed theme will not be considered for funding.
All applications must be sent via email with the subject line "CIP Research-Creation Grant" to boursecreationcipgmail.com. The selection process involves a jury composed of members from the International College of Photography, the DGCA representing the Ministry of Culture, and representatives from the Neuflize-OBC Foundation, who will convene in early 2026.
The timeline for the program extends well into 2027, with winners to be announced in February 2026. Final project submissions are expected in January 2027, followed by publication and curatorial development scheduled for summer 2027. The application period runs from October 17 through December 31, 2025, giving interested photographers ample time to prepare their proposals and portfolios.
