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.