Open Call for Prizes: Advancing the Discourse on Photography

Two worldwide awards recognise excellent analysis and revolutionary writing on the photographic medium.

24 June 2026

Open Call:

The Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation and the German Photographic Society (DGPh) invite functions for the fourth version of two worldwide awards: the DGPh Research Award “Thinking Photography” and the DGPh Award “Writing Photography” for Innovative Publication. Presented each two years, the awards rejoice distinctive contributions to photographic analysis, concept, criticism, and publishing.

Institutional Context:

The awards are collectively organised by the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation and the German Photographic Society (DGPh), two organisations dedicated to advancing pictures as a cultural, inventive, and scholarly area. Through awards, scholarships, exhibitions, and public programmes, each establishments assist up to date photographic observe whereas fostering crucial dialogue and analysis across the medium.

The initiative kinds a part of the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation’s broader dedication to supporting pictures via inventive and educational growth, whereas the DGPh promotes pictures’s cultural significance throughout disciplines together with artwork, science, schooling, publishing, enterprise, and public discourse.

Eligibility and Criteria:

Thinking Photography. DGPh Research Award (€3,000)

Eligible submissions embrace:

• Academic qualification theses, together with grasp’s, diploma, and doctoral dissertations
• Independent publications in photographic concept, historical past, humanities, cultural research, or social sciences
• Works that broaden current analysis views on pictures
• Texts written in German or English
• Unpublished manuscripts, on-line publications, and printed publications
• Works produced or revealed from November 2024 onwards

Particular consideration is given to initiatives that transfer past established disciplinary or methodological boundaries.

Writing Photography. DGPh Award for Innovative Publication (€1,000)

Eligible submissions embrace:

• Journalistic, essayistic, and significant writing on pictures
• Innovative publication codecs resembling weblog posts, columns, critiques, and web-based publications
• Projects that creatively mix textual content and photographic materials
• Individual contributions revealed digitally or in print
• Texts written in German or English
• Works revealed from November 2024 onwards

Evaluation Process:

Award recipients will likely be chosen by a world jury of pictures specialists and researchers appointed particularly for the awards cycle. The jury will assess the originality, high quality, and contribution of every submission to up to date photographic discourse and analysis.

Practical Information:

• Application interval: 1 July to 31 October 2026
• Submission deadline: 31 October 2026
• Award worth:
  • Thinking Photography. DGPh Research Award: €3,000
  • Writing Photography. DGPh Award for Innovative Publication: €1,000
• Languages: German and English
• Award ceremony: 2027 at a public occasion collectively organised by the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation and DGPh

Required utility supplies:

• Abstract in English (roughly 3,500 characters together with areas)
• Full manuscript in German or English
• Curriculum vitae
• List of earlier publications (non-obligatory)

Applications and Queries:

Applications have to be submitted via the designated on-line submission portals for both the Thinking Photography or Writing Photography award. Applicants ought to guarantee all required documentation is included earlier than the submission deadline.

For additional info, candidates could contact:

Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation
[email protected]

German Photographic Society (DGPh)
[email protected]