Photography Contest

Cortona On The Move: BarTur Grant

Cortona On The Move: BarTur Grant

Deadline |

CLOSED

Theme |

Critical social, environmental, economic, and cultural issues

Territory |

Worldwide

Eligibility |

Professional photographers

Entry Fees |

$20/project

Prizes |

Exhibition
Cortona On The Move and the BarTur Photo Award are proud to announce their partnership to launch the Cortona On The Move | BarTur Grant, supported by the Visual Storytellers Fund. This new initiative is dedicated to empowering photographers globally, providing grants and resources to support the creation of compelling documentary photo essays that address urgent social, environmental, economic, and cultural issues of our time.

Cortona On The Move, the renowned international photography festival, and the BarTur Photo Award, a global leader in celebrating the power of photography, are proud to announce the launch of the Cortona On The Move | BarTur Grant. This groundbreaking initiative, supported by the Visual Storytellers Fund, is set to empower photographers worldwide by providing vital resources and funding for in-progress documentary projects addressing urgent global issues.

The Cortona On The Move | BarTur Grant will award a $30,000 grand prize to one professional photographer and two $5,000 prizes to emerging photographers under the age of 30. All winners' work will be exhibited at the 2026 edition of Cortona On The Move.

Designed to amplify impactful storytelling, the Grant invites submissions from photographers tackling critical social, environmental, economic, and cultural challenges through compelling documentary photo essays.

A Platform for Change

The grant aims to elevate projects that highlight pressing issues of our time, bridging the gap between art and advocacy.

Veronica Nicolardi, Director of Cortona On The Move, explains"Photography has the unique power to capture moments that resonate universally. This grant empowers photographers to delve deeper and complete impactful stories that matter. For Cortona On The Move, it represents a pivotal opportunity to support the development of meaningful projects while offering a unique platform for their presentation on the global stage. Moreover, it strengthens Cortona’s identity as a hub of cultural production, solidifying its role as a place where creativity and storytelling flourish."

"The Cortona On The Move | BarTur Grant reflects our belief in the transformative power of photography," says Amnon Bar-Tur, Founder of the BarTur Photo Award. "This partnership enables us to support photographers who challenge conventional narratives and inspire change on a global scale. The Visual Storytellers Fund’s mission is to bring these vital stories to audiences worldwide, fostering dialogue and empathy across boundaries."

World Renowned Jury

We are thrilled to unveil the distinguished jury for this year’s Grant, composed of global leaders in photography and visual storytelling. This exceptional panel embodies expertise, innovation, and excellence across editorial, curatorial, and artistic realms.

Among the esteemed members are Amnon Bar-Tur, founder of The BarTur Award, and Veronica Nicolardi, Director of Cortona On The Move, joined by Kate Bubacz, Lead Photo Editor of The Wall Street Journal, and François Hébel, ICP’s Director at Large. Their profound contributions to the visual arts industry set a high benchmark for this prestigious initiative.

The jury also includes Nathalie Herschdorfer, Director of the Museum Photo Elysée, Hideko Kataoka of Newsweek Japan, Corinne Perkins of Reuters Pictures, Azu Nwagbogu, Founder of the African Artists’ Foundation, and Paolo Woods, Artistic Director of Cortona On The Move. Adding to this stellar lineup are Fiona Shields of The Guardian, Marie Monteleone of Bloomberg News, Vivek Prakash of Getty Images, and other celebrated professionals, each bringing unique perspectives and unparalleled expertise.

This world-renowned jury ensures the highest standards in recognising groundbreaking talent and celebrating the transformative power of photography. Together, they will elevate the global conversation around visual storytelling and inspire the next generation of creatives.

Winners and Exhibition

The grand prize winner will be announced at Cortona On The Move Festival in July 2025 and will have nine months to complete their project. The finished work will be exhibited at the 2026 edition of Cortona On The Move, along with the two winning works by emerging photographers, providing an unparalleled platform to showcase their story to an international audience of photography professionals, curators, and the public.

Featured Photo Contest

AAP Magazine #56 / SHADOWS

$1,000 cash prizes | Winning image(s) published in AAP Magazine #56 | Website feature and International Press

Best Photography Contests in 2024

Each year, there are hundreds of photography competitions all over the world, so we've decided to select for you the best of the best! Our selection of the best photo contests in 2024 is thoroughly curated to help you, whether you are a professional photographer or an amateur, to help find your next creative breakthrough. These all-star competitions offer the greatest opportunities for international exposure and/or incredible financial benefits. Some of them are closing soon, so get your photo submissions in!

ENDS 03/13/26
The biennial Belfast Photo Festival provided the perfect platform for gaining exposure to an international audience, with previous editions having welcome over 100,000 visitors from all over the world
ENDS 03/13/26
The 28th edition of the PICTO Fashion Photography Award holds a special significance for the PICTO Foundation.
ENDS 03/15/26
‘On the Block’ celebrates the unposed, unfiltered, and fleeting moments that define the art of documenting everyday life, whether in dense urban streets or sleepy rural towns.
ENDS 03/16/26
The prize is endowed with €5,000 to use as the winner sees fit.
ENDS 03/17/26
Be Featured in our April 2026 Online Juried Solo Exhibition!
ENDS 03/19/26
Our 56th printed issue of AAP Magazine will feature the best projects showcasing the theme "Shadows".
ENDS 03/21/26
The FORMAT Portfolio Review is returning in 2026. It will take place online on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 March.
ENDS 03/29/26
Be seen, be supported, and be part of Head On Photo Festival 2026.
ENDS 03/31/26
If you're a passionate amateur or professional photographer, we invite you to share your photographic project with us.
ENDS 03/31/26
Selected photobooks will be featured in Der Greif’s Articles section, including a dedicated editorial feature highlighting the project, its context, and the maker(s).
ENDS 03/31/26
Entries are open worldwide to photographers using an iPhone or iPad. Photos should not be published previously anywhere. The posts on personal accounts (Facebook, Instagram etc.) are eligible.
ENDS 04/02/26
$10,000 project development grant for up to eight participants. Funds may be used in whatever way fellows see fit in order to expand and complete projects
ENDS 04/05/26
Exhibition Dates: May 23 – June 13, 2026
ENDS 04/12/26
The winner will receive a grant of $14,000 for a solo exhibition
ENDS 04/16/26
Emerging Photographers (under 30 year old ) 2 X $ 5000 grants.
ENDS 04/16/26
The main grant is open to professional photographers worldwide, one $30,000. grant
ENDS 05/07/26
The 2026 Virginia Prize, worth €10,000, will be awarded to its winner in November 2026.
ENDS 05/17/26
MonoVisions Photography Awards are an international open call for photographers using black and white medium to express their visual language.
ENDS 05/31/26
This season will feature five main categories, with ‘Family’ serving as the primary theme.
ENDS 06/03/26
BUDAPEST INTERNATIONAL FOTO AWARDS is an international platform for photographers from all levels and genres to share their best images with the creative community in Hungary and Eastern Europe.
ENDS 06/15/26
Submit your best photographs now and get your chance to be one of the winners awarded in Siena!
ENDS 06/30/26
The IPA recognizes photography’s leading talents who are creating, shaping and defining the world of photography today.
ENDS 07/22/26
Submit your best work to our photo competition for a chance to win up to $11,500 in cash prizes, be selected by our curators for the PX3 exhibition in Paris and inclusion in the Annual PX3 book.