Today the V&A Parasol Foundation Women in Photography Project launches a brand-new photography prize dedicated to supporting and championing contemporary women’s photography which will run for three years. The V&A Parasol Foundation Prize for Women in Photography, organised in partnership with Peckham 24, is a career-enhancing opportunity open to all women photographers from across the globe. Also announced today is the inaugural theme for this year’s prize, Agents of Change, alongside the selection panel for the prize.
The prize celebrates the outstanding talent of women photographers and provides a powerful platform to showcase the work of innovative artists working in the field of contemporary photography. The five winners of the prize will have their work displayed at Peckham 24 – south London’s vibrant three-day contemporary photography festival – In May 2023. Winners will also receive career enhancing opportunities, including portfolio reviews, an invitation to a networking dinner with industry experts, and a financial bursary of £2000, as well as a spotlight on the V&A blog and the V&A Parasol Foundation Women in Photography Project’s Instagram account.
The winners will be selected by a panel of selectors co-chaired by Fiona Rogers, the inaugural Parasol Foundation Curator of Women in Photography at the V&A, and Vivienne Gamble, co-founder of Peckham 24 and Director of Seen Fifteen gallery, London.
They will be joined by Lesley A. Martin, Creative Director of Aperture; Ronan Mckenzie, photographer, curator and founder of Black-owned artist space HOME; and Turner nominated multi-media artist and lecturer Ingrid Pollard.
This year’s inaugural theme, Agents of Change, celebrates the place photography holds in documenting, celebrating and effecting change. Whether scientific or humanitarian, photography has been at the forefront of change since the introduction of photographic processes in the 1800s. As the world continues to be in flux, this theme invites photographers to represent some of our most pressing issues: from technological innovations and sustainability efforts to social revolutions and political reform.
Established at the heart of South London’s photography scene, Peckham 24 is a vibrant weekend festival which showcases and supports new talent and experimental artists in contemporary photography. Peckham 24 takes over Copeland Park and Bussey Building for a three-day festival of displays, talks and wider programming.
The prize has been made possible by the support of Ms. Ruth Monicka Parasol and The Parasol Foundation Trust, and forms part of the V&A Photography Centre’s ongoing commitment to diversifying the museum’s photographic programme offer and reaching new audiences outside of the museum in South Kensington. Earlier this year, The Parasol Foundation Women in Photography Project presented the work of photographer Laia Abril at the Copeland Gallery, in collaboration with the V&A and Photoworks.
Fiona Rogers, Parasol Foundation Curator of Women in Photography at the V&A, said: “We are delighted to announce The V&A Parasol Foundation Prize for Women in Photography, which marks a significant point in the development of the V&A Parasol Foundation Women in Photography programme. This new initiative represents a remit shared by us all to amplify the voices of women, champion diversity and promote equality in the arts. We are grateful to The Parasol Foundation Trust for their ongoing support.”
Vivienne Gamble, Artistic Director of Peckham 24 festival, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the inaugural V&A Parasol Foundation Prize for Women in Photography. At the heart of Peckham 24 is a mission to champion new and diverse voices in contemporary photography. Our values are completely aligned with the V&A Parasol Foundation Women in Photography Project, and we cannot wait to welcome the winning artists to the Peckham 24 2023 programme.”
The Prize is free to enter and open to all women photographic artists from around the world. To enter the 2022 competition, submissions must be made via the V&A’s application portal, found on our website.
About the Parasol Foundation Trust
The Parasol Foundation Trust is the philanthropic division of Parasol International and Ruth Parasol and family, helping to create opportunities for women to pursue their dreams and inspiring the next generation to follow in their footsteps.
The Trust was established in Gibraltar in 2004 and since then it has awarded over £40,000,000 for health, heritage and education grants in Gibraltar, UK, Israel, India, US, Spain and elsewhere.
Ruth Parasol is its Principal Benefactress giving much of her time as one of the Trustee Directors, guiding grant making, continuing to fund the Trust with her additional money and her private family office providing administrative and investment support.
https://parasolfoundation.org/
About Peckham 24
Peckham 24 is a not-for-profit festival established in 2016 by curator Vivienne Gamble and artist Jo Dennis. With a focus on supporting new talent and experimental artists working with photography, the festival creates a vibrant takeover of a number of warehouse and gallery spaces across Copeland Park and Bussey Building in the heart of Peckham’s artistic scene.
Photocredits: Ingrid Pollard, Caro Smart, Cole Barash, Ronan Mckenzie