The Institut’s grant

The Institut pour la photographie’s program to support research and creation aims to open up new perspectives and to develop and integrate diverse approaches to photography, including the history of photography, the anthropology of images, visual studies, the sciences, the digital humanities, and research-creation in the visual arts.

The call for applications is open to university or independent researchers, exhibition curators, art critics, photographers, and artists who are available throughout the selected year. Projects—including publications, exhibitions, and the creation of artworks—must address the theme proposed each year. The Institute pays particular attention to projects that focus on a theme, program, or resources related to the Hauts-de-France region, or to the collections held by the Institute.

The Institute’s program awards four annual grants of 15,000 euros each. These grants include  scientific and administrative support and are part of a program for the promotion and dissemination of research—consisting of three presentations, talks, or workshops spread throughout the year—organized by the Institute, in collaboration with its partners, in the Hauts-de-France region or beyond.

Louis Hélaine

The Institut's support grant is:

  • 39 researchers and artists supported since 2019

  • 4 recipients per edition

  • €15,000 in funding per recipient

  • a panel of experts

  • one theme per year

  • a framework that combines various approaches to the photographic image

  • scientific and structural support

Collective affinities, elective affinities

The Group and Photography

The theme of the eighth edition of the Institut pour la photographie’s research and creation support program is Collective Affinities, Elective Affinities: The Group and Photography .

A nuanced and complex reflection of our relationship to communal life, group photography has taken the place of the collective portrait painting. Many of these photographs focus on existing groups or collectives—whether professional, family-based, athletic, cultural, or political.

At the same time, other, more spontaneous collections of group photographs tend to be based on shared affinities, highlighting the sense of belonging to a chosen, self-identified group. They capture simple moments of everyday life with no other purpose than the joy of sharing a moment.

in its own way, group photography thus contributes to the construction of cultural, social, and gender identities, implicitly mapping out an intimate and collective, public and private landscape that plays on various codes of representation.

The theme of this 8th edition of the Institut pour la photographie’s Grant Program invites us to explore how photography serves as a vehicle for a sense of belonging, friendship, recognition, and togetherness.

 

Learn more about this topicCollective affinities, elective affinities

Camille Richert

Enseignante chercheuse

Representing and Showcasing Hard Work

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https://media.institut-photo.com/2026/03/portrait-camille-richert-edited.jpeg

Frequently asked questions about applications

One full year from the date the winners are announced.

The program begins upon the signing of the contract between the awardees and the Institut pour la photographie.

The grant amount must be used by the recipients solely to carry out the project that was selected as part of the Institut's grant program.

No, not necessarily; however, the jury pays particular attention to the projected timeline for completing the project during the period of the Institut's grant.

Yes, if it is signed by a specific representative from that institution.

Yes, a letter of recommendation is still required in this context.

The letter of recommendation should be used to support your application for this specific project. Applicants must be recommended by a recognized expert in the field of art, research, or publishing.

Yes, that is possible.

Yes, although the Institute will give preference to projects that focus on local resources or connections to the local community. 

No, not necessarily, but the Institute reserves the right to continue working with a grant recipient on the development of a project beyond the grant year—through events such as study days, exhibitions, publications, etc.

However, all awardees participate in a public presentation at the end of the project, in a format determined in advance—such as a presentation, a workshop, a study day, etc.

No, the candidate must speak English or French.

The visuals to be included in your application are the ones you will use in or for your project.

Yes, applications can be submitted individually or as a group. 

In the case of a group application, the group must designate a representative to serve as the point of contact for the Institut pour la photographie. A group application has the same rights as an individual application. 

The grant is not mutually exclusive with other forms of funding for the research and creative project.