The W. Eugene Smith Grant for Student Photographers is designed to encourage and support students whose photographic work renews the tradition of W. Eugene Smith’s dedicated compassion as evidenced during his 45-year career as a photographic essayist. Special consideration will be given to work that promotes social change, that embraces new technologies and image distribution, and that seeks to integrate the tradition of photography and social change with contemporary practice. The judges will be looking for a photographer and project that seem most likely to use exemplary and compelling photojournalism and documentary photography (possibly supplemented by or incorporating multi-media) to address an issue of import and impact related to the human condition: social change, humanitarian concern, armed conflict, or other topics of interpersonal, psychological, cultural, social, environmental, scientific, medical and/or political significance, ideally expressing an underlying acknowledgement of our common humanity.

What the Recipient Receives

For 2024, there will be two W. Eugene Smith Student Grants in the amount of $5,000. The grants provide two student photographers with the financial freedom to complete a photographic essay.
In the event the applicant is the recipient of a Student Grant, the applicant understands and agrees that $4,500 of the total Grant of $5,000 will be paid upon receipt of the Grant, and $500 will be paid upon receipt of twelve (12) digital images within eighteen (18) months after receipt of the Grant. The recipient must also submit a final report detailing how the grant was used and how the money contributed to the success of the project.
The images shall become part of the W. Eugene Smith Legacy Collection at the International Center of Photography in New York. Applicant also agrees that as part of the unrestricted gift, the Smith Fund may wxhibit the images and use them on a non-exclusive licensing basis to promote the activities of the Fund.
The W. Eugene Smith Memorial Fund, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, independently administers the grant program that provides photographers with the financial freedom to carry out or complete a major photographic essay.