Open Call: Objectifs Documentary Award 2024

The Objectifs Documentary Award champions Objectifs’ mission to broaden perspectives through image making, by supporting original voices in visual storytelling in Singapore and the wider region. The Award enables photographers to work on new or existing projects, encouraging them to tell stories about their native communities. It welcomes different creative approaches to non-fiction storytelling, from conventional documentary photography to visual experiments. Projects may be presented in still images or use multimedia.

Successful recipients will be given professional and financial support to work on their projects over a 6 month-long period. The final works will exhibited at Objectifs in May 2025. Deadline for applications is Monday, 27 May 2024 (2359H SGT).

Find out more about our past year recipients, mentors and curators here.

Apply now

AWARDS

1) Open Category
The Open Category is awarded to 1 recipient from Southeast Asia. The recipient will work with curator Goh Sze Ying to curate and present a solo exhibition at Objectifs in May 2025, and SGD$8,000 to work on a new or existing body of work.

One finalist will receive a grant of SGD$1,000 to continue their practice.

2) Emerging Category
The Emerging Category will be awarded to 2 recipients from Southeast Asia. Each recipient receives a 6 month-long mentorship with Jessica Lim, Director of Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops, a presentation at Objectifs in May 2025, and SGD$3,000 to work on a new or existing body of work.

One finalist will receive a grant of SGD$500 to continue their practice.

Recipients will receive production and logistical support from Objectifs for the exhibition. Completed works will be promoted on Objectifs’ website and social media channels. If the recipient is not based in Singapore, they will receive financial support for budget flights and accommodation to attend the setting up of and opening of the exhibition and conduct an artist talk/presentation.

SELECTION PANEL 

A panel of five jury members will review the application materials. Jury members are:

• Jessica Lim, Director of Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops. Emerging Category Mentor for 2024
• Goh Sze Ying, Curator at National Gallery Singapore. Open Category Curator for 2024
• Ng Swan Ti, Managing Director of PannaFoto Institute and Exhibitions Director at Jakarta International Photo Institute. Emerging Category Mentor for 2023
• Roger Nelson, curator, art historian, and Assistant Professor of Art History in the School of Humanities at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Open Category Curator for 2023
• Chelsea Chua, Programme Director, Objectifs Centre for Photography and Film

SELECTION PROCESS

Selection will be based on the artistic and intellectual merit of each applicant’s project. We will also consider the feasibility of the applicant completing the project by January 2025. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed by the jury about their project. Successful recipients will be contacted by Jun 2024.

• Application Deadline:  Mon, 27 May 2024 (2359H SGT)
• Announcement of Grantees: Jun 2024
• Completion of Awarded Projects: Jan 2025

APPLICATION CRITERIA 

We are seeking work created in photographers’ current or native communities. We welcome different creative approaches to non-fiction storytelling, including social documentary, portraiture, conceptual and art photography. Your final work can be entirely in still photography or use multimedia.

The project may be new or existing (if existing, the photographer must communicate in his/her proposal what additional plans there are for the project), and must be completed by January 2025. 

1) Open Category

• Open to Southeast Asian photographers (including Singapore), irrespective of age. Southeast Asian photographers who are not currently living/working in Southeast Asia may also apply.
• One recipient will be selected for this category.
• Applicants should ideally present an ongoing project that is near completion.
• Applicants should have more than 5 years of professional photography experience (including internships and freelance work)
• Applicants must be able to communicate in English
• Applicants must have full copyright ownership of the work produced
• Applicants will need to submit in PDF format
  a. 500-word (max.) proposal
  b. If proposing a new project, please share sample images showing visual approach
  c. If proposing to work on/present an ongoing project, please share images from the project (max. 20 images)
  d. Portfolio (max. 20 images)
  e. CV

2) Emerging Category

• Open to Southeast Asian photographers (including Singapore), irrespective of age.
• Two recipients will be selected for this category.
• Applicants must have less than 5 years of professional photography experience (including internships and freelance work)
• Both ongoing or new projects are welcome
• Applicants must have full copyright ownership of the work produced
• Applicants will need to submit in PDF format
  a. 500-word (max.) proposal
  b. If proposing a new project, please share sample images showing visual approach
  c. If proposing to work on/present an ongoing project, please share images from the project (max. 20 images)
  d. A portfolio that includes up to 2 bodies of work (max. 20 images)
  e. Biography and CV

ENTRY FEE 
None.

OTHER TERMS & CONDITIONS 

Award Recipients’ Commitments

• • Recipients should be committed to their projects. Objectifs will provide any necessary advice and support throughout the award period.
    a. Open Category: The recipient will work with an experienced curator to help edit his/her work and present it in an exhibition. There will be at least 4-5 touch-points through the project, but the recipient and mentor will determine the frequency and duration of discussions to bring the project to completion.
    b. Emerging Category: Both recipients will work with an experienced mentor, who is able to provide guidance and advice on refining refine his/her work. There will be at least 4-5 touch-points through the project, but the recipients and mentor will determine the frequency and duration of discussions to bring the project to completion.
  • In addition to working on their projects, recipients are also required to:
    a. Be present during the setting up of the exhibitions and attend the exhibition opening
    b. Conduct at least one artist talk/presentation
    c. Make themselves available for media interviews
  • Recipients agree that works for the proposed project will not be shown as part of a festival, exhibition or editorial without the written consent of Objectifs, prior to the exhibition at Objectifs in May 2025.
  • Recipients should ensure that they obtain any relevant and/or necessary approvals, permits and/or rights when working on their projects.
  • Recipients should provide regular updates as to the progress of their project to Objectifs and the programme mentor/curator.
  • Recipients will retain copyrights of all works developed for the project.
  • Recipients may apply for other grants/project funds from their own countries or in Singapore, concurrent with this award.
  • The grant quantum is fixed. Recipients will be responsible for all incidentals, travel meals, living expenses and hiring of any assistants or production crew (if/where relevant).
  • Recipients grant Objectifs the right to reproduce images from the project for non-commercial purposes relating to the promotion and marketing of the Award and Objectifs programmes.
  • Objectifs should be acknowledged as a Supporter, together with the showcase of the Recipient’s works resulting from this Award, in any print or online platforms.
  • In the event that the Recipient is unable to fulfil the commitments or does not complete the project without valid reasons, Objectifs reserves the right to recover partial or full costs as provided during the Award.

General

• • Applications must be submitted electronically by 27 May 2024. Incomplete or physical submissions will not be accepted. We will not accept any late applications after the deadline.
  • The selection panel’s decision is final. We regret that we are unable to provide feedback for applicants who are not selected for the Award.
  • By submitting an entry, an applicant warrants and represents that any intellectual property are original to him/her, and that he/she has the rights granted for the work, that here have been no prior transfer of the rights to the images and that the publication of the images will not infringe upon any other person’s copyright or other rights. The applicant agrees to indemnify and hold Objectifs and the Selection Panel harmless from any liability, loss cost and expense (including legal fees) arising from any breach of the foregoing warrants, due to or arising out of the applicant’s entry materials for this Award or the applicant’s conduct during and in connection with the creation of his/her work for the Award.