© Chrystal Ding

We are delighted to be supporting the Rebecca Vassie Memorial Award once again this year. This award was created in memory of Rebecca Vassie, a British photographer and photojournalist who died suddenly, aged 30, while on assignment in Uganda in March 2015.

The Rebecca Vassie Trust has announced the fourth annual Rebecca Vassie Memorial Award for emerging photographers, which includes a cash bursary of £2,000. The award, which funds an early-career photographer in the UK to undertake a narrative photography project, also includes more than £1,000-worth of premier printing at Metro Imaging plus support towards industry and public exposure. In addition, up to twelve longlisted applicants join the trust’s Development Network, which offers smaller grants towards educational projects and professional development throughout the year.

Judges for the award include Caroline Hunter (picture editor, Guardian Weekend magazine), Phil Coomes (picture editor, BBC News Online) and Jennifer Thatcher (critic, curator and lecturer).

Applicants for the award, who must be either from or based in the UK, are asked to submit a proposal setting out a compelling vision for a narrative photography project with a social or political context. The deadline for submissions is Friday, 27 March 2020. Submission information is at www.rebeccavassietrust.org.

Previous awards have been won by James Arthur Allen (2017), Kirsty Mackay (2018) and Chrystal Ding (2019).

Candidates longlisted for this year’s award also gain access to the Rebecca Vassie Trust’s Development Network, which disburses small grants throughout the year towards project development, professional training and public workshops delivered by network members, especially to young people and marginalised communities. The Trust offers shortlisted candidates additional support-in-kind such as networking opportunities and online exhibition; the winner and any runners-up receive membership of Shutter Hub.

Adam Barnard, a trustee of the charity and Rebecca’s brother-in-law, said: “As we approach our fourth award, we look back with pride at three distinct and brilliant projects we’ve supported ‒ and, just as important, the network of more than 30 photographers, all previously longlisted, with whom we maintain active relationships. This year we’ve enabled nine additional small projects, from photography workshops with young refugees to industry mentorship. We hope there’s more incentive than ever to apply.”

Find out more and enter the awards here.