Applicants are encouraged to review these rules in preparation for their submission, which will be processed through the Visura.co platform. (See more below.)
Potential applicants are welcome to review these rules in preparation for the next open submission period, Jan. 17 thru Feb. 17, 2025. The open judging weekend will be held April 4-5, 2025, in Syracuse, New York. Please check back periodically until then for information about additional grants.
Your submission must include a synopsis of your project, a proposal, your bio, a résumé/CV and a body of work. Stories may be in progress or upcoming. The submission fee is $50 for professionals; student submissions are free. Entries are judged as much on the strength of the proposal as on the applicant’s visual skills. What storytellers address and what they say about life on the planet is more important than the approach chosen to address that topic. Only one application per person will be accepted each year.
In addition to being considered for the traditional Vision grants, you will have an opportunity during submission to indicate whether your application should also be considered for any of this year’s pop-up grants.
THE ALEXIA VISION GRANTS
For these two grants, we will be looking for strong projects that provide insight into issues around the world, foster cultural understanding, and inspire meaningful change by addressing socially significant topics.
Professional: $20,000 and a Sony camera/lens. The runner-up will receive $1000.
Student: $1,000, a Sony camera/lens, acceptance to the Eddie Adams Workshop, the tuition and fees to audit three courses during a semester at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in New York, and they will be considered for a paid position as research assistant to The Alexia chair. The runner-up for this award will receive $500.
2025 PROFESSIONAL POP-UP GRANTS
The Alexia Faith Grant sponsored by Hendrick’s Chapel, Syracuse University: $5,000. For this grant, we will be looking for strong projects that provide meaningful insight into issues related to faith.
The Alexia Conservation Grant sponsored by The fStop Foundation: $5,000. For this grant, we will be looking for strong projects that focus on positive aspects of conservation work in relation to human-wildlife conflict — how we can thrive living alongside wildlife that share our landscape.
2025 STUDENT POP-UP GRANTS
The Alexia Faith Grant sponsored by Hendrick’s Chapel, Syracuse University: $1,000. For this grant, we will be looking for strong projects that provide meaningful insight into issues related to faith.
The Alexia Sports Grant sponsored by the Sports Media Center at Newhouse, Syracuse University: $1,000. For this grant, we will be looking for strong projects that provide meaningful insight into issues related to sports.
The Alexia Public Diplomacy Grant sponsored by the Public Diplomacy and Global Communication program at Newhouse, Syracuse University: $1,000. For this grant, we will be looking for strong projects that provide meaningful insight into issues related to public diplomacy, which is often (but not limited to) stories focused on history, culture and foreign policy.
The Alexia Conservation Grant sponsored by The fStop Foundation: $1,000. For this grant, we will be looking for strong projects that focus on positive aspects of conservation work in relation to human-wildlife conflict — how we can thrive living alongside wildlife that share our landscape.
2025 EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHER GRANT
The Alexia Emerging Photographer Grant sponsored by the VII Foundation:Tuition to Level 3 of The Program for Narrative and Documentary Photography in Arles, France, plus accommodation and a per diem. This grant recipient will be selected from applicants to our student grants as well as professional applicants who have five years of experience or less. This intensive month-long program includes training in observation, interview techniques, public speaking, writing, constructing complex narratives, editing, improving technical skills and engaging in discourse and debate. Level 3 classes are conducted in English and focus on teaching through practice and mentoring; they also include more theoretical concepts, integrating multi-disciplinary academic reading and research, writing, journaling, art disciplines and workshops.
All images submitted also will be considered for inclusion in international exhibitions and publications curated throughout the year. Photographers with selected images would be contacted for approval.
Because grant submissions will be processed through the Visura.co platform, you must have a Visura.co account to apply. If you do not already have one, you will be prompted to create one when you begin your submission. The button at the bottom of this page will take you to Visura.co, where, beginning Jan. 17, you will be guided through the following steps.
STEP 1: CONFIRM YOUR ACCOUNT. If you are new to Visura, you will be prompted to create a free account when you begin your entry. If you are an existing Visura member, log in, then select Network at the top of your account page > Active open calls > The Alexia Grants 2025.
STEP 2: CREATE AN ENTRY. In this step, you will upload your content. All fields, including captions, are required. In addition to being considered for the main Alexia grant, you will have an opportunity to indicate whether your application should also be considered for any of our new grants. You may save a draft and return to the entry when you’re ready to continue. Here, you also will be prompted to read and accept terms and conditions.
STEP 3: PAY THE FEE. Submission is $50 for professionals and free for students. Paypal and credit cards are accepted. A limited number of professional fee waivers are available through partner organizations. (See more below.)
STEP 4: SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY. You will receive a confirmation email if the entry was completed correctly.
WRITTEN ELEMENTS
Synopsis: A short paragraph (2–3 sentences) that succinctly summarizes your project and gives a general overview of the story you are trying to tell. Reading this should give jurors a solid understanding of and context for images they’ll be seeing in your submission. Think of this as your “elevator pitch” for the project.
Proposal: A more complete project description of 400–500 words. Start by clearly stating what the project is about, then explain why the topic is important, how you will continue to work on the project, and what tangible outcomes (exhibit, book, film, website, etc.) will result from the work. Make note of any partnerships you’ve developed for the project that could enhance the impact of the work. Do not put your name or other identifying information on your proposal. All applications will be judged anonymously.
Bio/about statement: An up to 300-word description that provides a picture of who you are as a visual communicator, including any relevant accomplishments and other information.
Résumé/CV: This much longer document formally outlines your professional experience to date (jobs held, responsibilities/skills, timeframes, clients, etc.) and also includes your email address, phone number and mailing address along with the names, titles and phone numbers of three professional references. Do not include any letters of recommendation.
VISUAL ELEMENTS
Submit a body of work consisting of at least five and up to 20 photographs and/or two videos. Do not feel compelled to submit 20 images; previous grant recipients have submitted as few as 12. Select only your best photos and arrange them in a compelling sequence that reflects your vision and visual narrative. If you have not yet begun working on the project, you may submit photos/videos made within the past three years that reflect your vision for the proposed project. In your written proposal, make sure to note that this work is from a different project. There is no time limit on photos/videos made specifically for your proposed project.
Photo submissions: Digital photo files must be formatted as medium-quality JPEG images at 6000 pixels for the longest dimension at 300 dpi, using the sRGB profile. Each image must have a caption in the file’s metadata/exif caption field. Do not include your name in captions or exif fields.
Video submissions: You may provide up to two videos. They must represent your proposed project directly or an approach similar to the one you plan to tackle. Either way, it must be your own work. Please keep videos to five minutes or shorter. If your video is significantly longer, create a six-minute compilation or trailer, or select a six-minute segment for the judges to review. Your video(s) should be at least 1920 x 1080 (1080p) and uploaded to Vimeo or YouTube. You will then copy and paste the embed code into your entry. Please also upload a poster/thumbnail image and a brief written description of the film. Your project should be subtitled in English if the language is otherwise.
ETHICAL STANDARDS
The Alexia follows ethical photojournalistic standards as set forth by organizations such as World Press Photo, Pictures of the Year International and the National Press Photographers Association. Images may not be altered to change the structural integrity of photographed scenes unless they are clearly illustrative in nature. Toning of images — saturation, contrast, vignetting, dynamic range, etc. — must be within reasonable limits, as determined by the judges. We reserve the right to request raw files or untoned .jpg files of submitted images from entrants selected as finalists, with the goal of ensuring the integrity of those images. If you cannot provide raw or untoned files, you might be ineligible to receive an Alexia grant.
The submission of AI imagery is NOT ACCEPTABLE for The Alexia grants and will disqualify your application.
All applicants understand that The Alexia will comply with all applicable U.S. export control and economic sanctions laws and regulations, including the screening of applicants and/or grant recipients against lists of export control-restricted parties to ensure compliance with sanctions regulations.
ELIGIBILITY
Professionals: If you do not qualify as a student, you must enter as a professional. Grant applicants who are employed full time must ensure they have any necessary permissions from their employer to allow time to complete their project within one year.
Students: Students must be fully engaged in academic pursuit at a college, university, community college or center of photography at the time of their submission or have graduated in 2023. For most students, that means they’re enrolled full-time and taking courses; others might be on an internship before completing their degree or working on their master’s project or thesis as part of an advanced degree. Ph.D. students are eligible if they are actively pursuing their degree. You will be prompted to provide proof of current enrollment or recent graduation (in the form of a PDF or .jpg) during the submission process.
JUDGING CRITERIA AND PROCESS
Grants will go to visual storytellers who demonstrate the potential to produce significant projects that share The Alexia’s mission and who demonstrate the ability to accomplish their projects. Applications will be judged by a three-member jury based on the topic and the strength of the submitted materials — both the visuals and the proposal itself. The jury will review submissions before the live judging (April 4–5) and advance only selected entries for reassessment on that weekend, at the end of which they’ll choose grant recipients, runners-up and award of excellence honorees.
PRIZES
PROFESSIONAL GRANTS
The Alexia Vision Grant: $20,000 and a Sony camera/lens. The runner-up will receive $1000.
The Alexia Conservation Grant sponsored by The fStop Foundation: $5,000. The fStop Foundation also is willing to provide guidance during production and publication.
The Alexia Faith Grant sponsored by Hendrick’s Chapel, Syracuse University: $5,000. For this grant, we will be looking for strong projects that provide meaningful insight into issues related to faith.
STUDENT GRANTS
The Alexia Vision Grant (student): $2,000, a Sony camera/lens, acceptance to the Eddie Adams Workshop (other finalists will get priority consideration for acceptance), the tuition and fees to audit three courses during a semester at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in New York, and they will be considered for a paid position as research assistant to The Alexia chair. The runner-up for this award will receive $500.
The Alexia Conservation Grant sponsored by The fStop Foundation: $1,000. The fStop Foundation also is willing to provide guidance during production and publication.
The Alexia Faith Grant sponsored by Hendrick’s Chapel, Syracuse University: $1,000.
The Alexia Public Diplomacy Grant sponsored by the Public Diplomacy and Global Communication program at Newhouse, Syracuse University: $1,000.
The Alexia Sports Grant sponsored by the Sports Media Center at Newhouse, Syracuse University: $1,000.
EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHER GRANT
The Alexia Emerging Photographer Grant sponsored by the VII Foundation: Tuition to Level 3 of The Program for Narrative and Documentary Photography in Arles, France, plus accommodation and a per diem.
All images submitted also will be considered for inclusion in international exhibitions and publications curated throughout the year. Photographers with selected images would be contacted for approval.
EXPECTATIONS OF GRANT RECIPIENTS
Professional grant recipients are expected to produce a substantial body of work on the project they proposed — usually clocking in about one to three months of field time — within one year of signing the grant agreement. These recipients will then submit 60 high-resolution images or a high-resolution digital file of their film to The Alexia Chair. Student grant recipients are expected to make meaningful progress on their project within one year of signing the grant agreement. These recipients will then submit at least 20 high-resolution images or a high-resolution digital file of their film to The Alexia Chair.
All grant recipients working with still photography will consider images made during the entirety of their project in choosing the final images and will consult with The Alexia Chair to create the selection. The goal is to reflect the full scope of the project, including any worthy imagery made before the grant was awarded. All images must have captions. All grant recipients working on a film also will consider footage shot during the entirety of their project and will consult with The Alexia Chair at least three times: at the rough-cut stage, midway and just before the final cut.
All recipients also must submit at the end of that year a thorough document that 1) outlines how they completed/advanced the project, 2) lists any publication or public presentation of the work, and 3) elaborates on challenges, triumphs lessons learned. Lastly, all grant recipients will credit The Alexia at Newhouse/Syracuse University if their project (in part or in its entirety) is published or screened during production or within a year of completion.
GRANT OF RIGHTS
All applicants understand, acknowledge and agree that should they be awarded an Alexia grant, the recipient retains the copyright to their work and explicitly grants The Alexia, its licensees, affiliates and their designees an irrevocable, non-exclusive perpetual royalty-free license to use, copy, publish, distribute, screen and display those photographs, photo stories, picture essays, multimedia, films or photo-documentary projects, written content, in any and all manner, form/medium/media now known or hereafter created, and in any publication, advertising, marketing, venue or program sponsored or authorized by The Alexia for the advancement of its mission and goals, including but not limited to educational, promotional and fundraising purposes at The Alexia’s sole discretion, without additional permission or consideration, or notification to the grant recipient or any third party.
The Alexia Chair may also use submitted materials and completed projects in their educational responsibilities.
Each applicant warrants and represents that every photograph/film submitted with their entry is their own original work and that they have the unrestricted right to grant The Alexia the license described above.
Alexia grants will be awarded subject to these additional terms: The license granted herein by the applicant to The Alexia for use of photographs/films submitted with the applicant’s Alexia grant application shall be extended in all its terms to all works created by the applicant in the course of any project funded in any part by the applicant’s Alexia grant. Each applicant shall be deemed to have consented to the use of their name, portrait and/or picture by The Alexia in promotional and public relations materials or for any other purpose related to The Alexia. Each applicant shall agree to reasonable requests by The Alexia to present such applicant’s work and/or represent The Alexia at photography workshops, seminars and/or conventions, provided that any necessary expense associated with such presentations is paid by The Alexia. Each applicant shall be responsible for determining his or her own tax liability arising from acceptance of the Alexia grant, and for satisfaction of any such liability.
FEE WAIVER
Through a partnership with African Photojournalism Database, African Women in Photography, Arab Documentary Photography Program, Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, The Authority Collective, Balkanium, Black Women Photographers, Diversify Photo, Eddie Adams Workshop, The Everyday Projects, Femgrafía, Foto Feminas, Gulf Photo Plus, Indigenous Photograph, Magnum Foundation, National Press Photography Association (NPPA), Photo Circle (Kathmandu), Vilnius Photo Circle, VII Foundation, Visura, Women Photograph, and World Press, The Alexia is offering a limited number of submission fee waivers. Photographers/filmmakers who cannot afford the submission fee and are members of one of the partner organizations listed above can apply for a waiver from their organization beginning Jan. 17. Given that there are a limited number of waivers, we recommend you apply for one as soon as possible. (Professional category only; student entries are free.)
How to apply: Begin your grant competition entry. If you are not already a Visura member, you will be prompted to create an account at the beginning of the grant submission process. Next, follow these steps:
1. Create an entry.
2. Save the entry as a draft. (You will be allowed to return to edit your submission until the closing deadline.)
3. Click the Preview button, then copy the URL of that preview page.
4. Share that URL via email with your partner organization for their review ALONG WITH YOUR PROJECT SYNOPSIS (a short paragraph of 2-4 sentences that succinctly summarizes your project and gives a general overview of the concept).
5. If your waiver request is accepted, your organization will email you a unique code to use in the payment step of the submission process.
Note: We do not require that you justify your request, but we do operate on an honor code and trust that if you are asking for a fee waiver it is because you need it.