The Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University has opened their call for entries for the 2024 Alexia Grants.
The Alexia Grants are an outstanding opportunity for visual communicators to receive support in producing projects that address social issues.
The submission cycle closes February 15.
Here is more about the Alexia Grants from the Newhouse School:
SYRACUSE, NY — The Alexia 2024 grant competition for professionals and students is now open. FOUR NEW GRANTS have been added this year. Submissions will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. EST February 15.
THE ALEXIA grants exist to help professional and student visual storytellers produce projects that inspire change and foster understanding by addressing significant topics around the world, and it encourages a diversity of creators, issues and approaches. Please visit its GRANTS page for more information and to apply.
The recipient of the main professional grant will receive $20,000 to produce their proposed project as well as a Sony camera and lens. The recipient of the main student grant will receive a $1,000 stipend to advance their proposed project, a new Sony camera and lens, a fellowship for 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 to serve as a research assistant to The Alexia chair. If the jury recognizes additional proposed projects as finalists, they will be featured on The Alexia website alongside the winners. The runner-up for this award will receive $500.
This year, we are offering four new grants in addition to the main grants. If a project aligns with one of the new initiatives, it will automatically be considered. APPLICANTS SHOULD SUBMIT ONLY ONE APPLICATION.
NEW PROFESSIONAL GRANT: The Alexia Mental Health Grant sponsored by The Albany Foundation — $17,000. We are looking for a strong project that provides meaningful insight into a mental health issue.
NEW PROFESSIONAL GRANT: The Alexia Environmental Change Grant sponsored by James Balog / Earth Vision Institute — $15,000. We are looking for a still photographer whose innovative image-making and ideas deepen human understanding of environmental change in the Anthropocene. Special consideration will be given to work with strong potential for public outreach.
NEW PROFESSIONAL GRANT: The Alexia Conservation Grant sponsored by The fStop Foundation — $5,000. We are looking for a strong project that focuses on positive aspects of conservation work in relation to human-wildlife conflict and how we can thrive alongside the wildlife that share our landscape. The fStop Foundation also is willing to provide guidance during production and publication.
NEW STUDENT GRANT: 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. The fStop Foundation also is willing to provide guidance during production and publication.
ANOTHER NEW OPPORTUNITY — EXHIBITIONS: All images will be considered for inclusion in exhibits and publications curated throughout the year. Photographers with selected images will be contacted for approval.
Submissions will be processed through Visura.co, and judging will take place March 29 and 30 at the Newhouse School. Winners will be announced around April 15. The Alexia 2024 judging is being sponsored by SONY.
Unlike competitions that recognize completed projects, The Alexia funds new work and work in progress.
“It’s important to realize that the written proposal carries a tremendous amount of weight in the selection process,” explains The Alexia Endowed Chair Bruce Strong, who encourages applicants to thoughtfully craft the written components of the submission. He further explains, “When it comes to the imagery, we’re open to a variety of visual approaches. The bottom line is, we’re looking for work that shows the applicant has the skills and vision to produce a compelling project.”
After reviewing proposals from 54 nations, last year’s jury selected a winner, a runner-up and award of excellence recipients in both the professional and student categories. James Year was the 2023 recipient of professional grant, in support of his Stealing Fire: The Collision of Trucking and Automation. The 2023 student grant recipient was Md. Zobayer Hossain Joatifor his project We Live to Fight. To review last year’s winners and finalists, visit The Alexia’s 2023 GRANT WINNERS page.
Through a partnership with African Women in Photography, The Authority Collective, Diversify Photo, The Everyday Projects, Femgrafía, Foto Feminas, Indigenous Photograph, Magnum Foundation, VII Foundation, Visura and Women Photograph, The Alexia is offering a limited number of submission fee waivers for the professional category; student entries are free. Photographers and filmmakers who cannot afford the $50 professional submission fee and who are members of one of the partner organizations listed above can apply for a waiver from their organization per the instructions in the submission rules section.
For general information, visit thealexia.org. For answers to any further questions, contact Bruce Strong at TheAlexia@syr.edu..
Learn more about the grants and how to apply here: The Alexia