Two international awards recognise outstanding research and innovative writing on the photographic medium.
24 June 2026
Open Call:
The Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation and the German Photographic Society (DGPh) invite applications for the fourth edition of two international awards: the DGPh Research Award “Thinking Photography” and the DGPh Award “Writing Photography” for Innovative Publication. Presented every two years, the awards celebrate exceptional contributions to photographic research, theory, criticism, and publishing.
Institutional Context:
The awards are jointly organised by the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation and the German Photographic Society (DGPh), two organisations committed to advancing photography as a cultural, artistic, and scholarly field. Through awards, scholarships, exhibitions, and public programmes, both institutions support contemporary photographic practice while fostering critical dialogue and research around the medium.
The initiative forms part of the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation’s broader commitment to supporting photography through artistic and academic development, while the DGPh promotes photography’s cultural significance across disciplines including art, science, education, publishing, business, and public discourse.
Eligibility and Criteria:
Thinking Photography. DGPh Research Award (€3,000)
Eligible submissions include:
- Academic qualification theses, including master’s, diploma, and doctoral dissertations
- Independent publications in photographic theory, history, humanities, cultural studies, or social sciences
- Works that expand existing research perspectives on photography
- Texts written in German or English
- Unpublished manuscripts, online publications, and printed publications
- Works produced or published from November 2024 onwards
Particular consideration is given to projects that move beyond established disciplinary or methodological boundaries.
Writing Photography. DGPh Award for Innovative Publication (€1,000)
Eligible submissions include:
- Journalistic, essayistic, and critical writing on photography
- Innovative publication formats such as blog posts, columns, reviews, and web-based publications
- Projects that creatively combine text and photographic material
- Individual contributions published digitally or in print
- Texts written in German or English
- Works published from November 2024 onwards
Evaluation Process:
Award recipients will be selected by an international jury of photography experts and researchers appointed specifically for the awards cycle. The jury will assess the originality, quality, and contribution of each submission to contemporary photographic discourse and research.
Practical Information:
- Application period: 1 July to 31 October 2026
- Submission deadline: 31 October 2026
- Award value:
- Thinking Photography. DGPh Research Award: €3,000
- Writing Photography. DGPh Award for Innovative Publication: €1,000
- Languages: German and English
- Award ceremony: 2027 at a public event jointly organised by the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation and DGPh
Required application materials:
- Abstract in English (approximately 3,500 characters including spaces)
- Full manuscript in German or English
- Curriculum vitae
- List of previous publications (optional)
Applications and Queries:
Applications must be submitted through the designated online submission portals for either the Thinking Photography or Writing Photography award. Applicants should ensure all required documentation is included before the submission deadline.
For further information, applicants may contact:
Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation
media.foundation@deutsche-boerse.com
German Photographic Society (DGPh)
presse@dgph.de
