Gomma Grant 2021

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About the Gomma Photography Grant

The acclaimed and renonwned photography grant contest from Gomma. The eighth year in the making. High international exposure and funding.

The Gomma Photography Grant is a grant contest tailored to fund and support photographers working in various genre. Begun in 2014, the Gomma Grant has quickly acquired a reputation for being ethical and quality-focused, with an eye for spotting fresh talent and encouraging those already in the spotlight. Photographers that are recognized through the Gomma Grant are known to have grown their career to a higher level, both professionally and artistically.

A bit of history... Gomma has come a long way since the first Gomma Magazine came out in 2004. Throughout the years, Gomma has been actively promoting photographers and their work, both established and emerging photographers. We worked with internationally renowned artists, such as Roger Ballen, Anders Petersen, Michael Ackerman, Keizo Kitajima, and Daido Moriyama. The Gomma Grant is open to everyone. Any medium, black & white or colour, analogue or digital. Gomma's juror and editors are looking for consistency, personality, and courage.

Gomma Magazine Issue 3

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Gomma Magazine

Issue 3

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Volume Two

MONO

Volume Two

Gomma Grant 2020

Press Release

Gomma Grant 2020

Press Release

Guidelines

The 2021 Gomma Grant contest comes with a few novelties...

We listened to your feedbacks and comments and have implemented the possibility to add Titles and Captions to your images.

We have also decided to add a special launch discount for the first few weeks. And we kept the submissions fees without any increase.

As with 2021, we have simplified the submission process. Fewer and more straightforward forms.

• You can submit black & white or color, analogue or digital. Polaroid/ instagram etc...
• Any genre: Portraiture/ Documentary/ Fine Art/ Black & white/ Photojournalism...
• 6 to 24 images at 72 dpi
• Longest size minimum 1500 pixels.
• JPGs - sRGB/ RGB

• A short introduction to your work
• Please name your images as follow: Name-Surname-imageNumber.jpg

Two deadlines: one at the end of August and one in October.

We at Gomma believe in community and in the endless power that togetherness can generate.

Deadlines:
• EARLY deadline: Tuesday 31st August 2021
Fees:
• € 20 for the Early deadline.

• FINAL deadline: Wednesday 07th October 2021
Fees:
• € TBC for the final deadline.

We like to reward photographers that do not follow the trends and are not copycats of any kind.

We are looking for photographers with a fresh eye, courage, and a distinct personality. Someone that has no fear to show their own soul throughout the work.

Artists that have the curiosity to investigate the common and capture the every day.

Gomma constantly donate to charities battling global crisis.

Gomma does donate regularly to charities and organization around the world battling with current international and ongoing issues.

Let's submit here...

Gomma Grant past winners

For the complete list of past winners please choose from the upper menu

Please submit here

2021 Gomma Grant Prizes

• € 1000 cash prize.
• Worldwide international exposure through the Gomma social network and media partners.
• Proposal to the Gomma publishers network (magazine and books publishing).
• Direct proposition to esteemed international galleries and curators.
• Featured and interviewed by major photography magazines.
• Own dedicated post on the Gomma Facebook page and Instagram.

• € 500 cash prize.
• Worldwide international exposure through Gomma social network and media partners.
• Proposal to the Gomma publishers network (magazine and books publishing).
• Own personalized post on Gomma Facebook page and Instagram.

• € 200 cash prize.
• International exposure through Gomma social network and media partners.
• Proposition to esteemed international galleries and curators.
• Own personalized post on Gomma Facebook page and Instagram.

• € 100 cash prize.
• Proposition to esteemed international galleries and curators.
• Featured and interviewed along the major photography magazine.

• € 100 cash prize. <
• International exposure through Gomma social network and media partners.
• Proposition to esteemed international galleries and curators.
• Own personalized post on Gomma Facebook page and Instagram.

Early Deadline

• Tuesday 31st August 2021

• € 20 final submission fee

Final Deadline

• Thursday 07th October 2021

• € TBC final submission fee

Winners results announcement in January 2022

Can I add captions to my images?: Yes, with the latest edition you can add Titles and Captions.

Why should I submit to photo contests?: In photography, like in many other creative industries, exposure means jobs. It can open doors to a new collaboration, publishing, and commissions. Photo contests are still a very useful and successful way to get your work known across a wide international audience.

Many photographers probably feel sick and tired of photo competitions, there are simply way too many. Every day we see new photo contests springing up, and it is difficult to decide whether one is more ethical and reliable than another.

Who are the jurors for this year's grant?: With the latest edition we decided to keep the jury secret.
How should I choose a photo contest?: We have compiled a brief set of points below. We suggest you follow these points as you question yourself about the photo contest you are thinking of applying to:

a) The year it was established. Find out when the contest started. The older the better. If it's a new contest, investigate the company/organization behind it.

c) The submission fees. Are the fees reasonable? If not, ask yourself why the fees are so high. Are those high fees justifiable?

d) The dimension. If the contest is huge and receives thousands of entries your chances of winning or being shortlisted is, obviously, less than if you take part in a smaller photo competition.

So be very critical about the work you are submitting and about the contest itself.
Why should I submit to Gomma Grant?: If photo contests were shops, imagine the Gomma Grant like a bijou, quality-focused, collectables shop compared to the Walmart kind of supermarket of the major photo competitions. It depends on what you are looking for and how you would like your work to be judged.

Your first Gomma Grant was free, why do you charge now?: Please remember that running a contest for a grant like this one comes with substantial costs - from the submittable.com platform fees, to web hosting/web developing & graphic design costs, to the time-consuming selection process (which can take months), marketing and advertising expenses, etc.
How long does the selection process take?: The jury begins their assessment on 11th October 2021 and it ends on January 2022.
Copyrights and Rights Usage information?: For Copyrights and Rights Usage information: https://www.gommagrant.com/copyright2020.html

Are multiple entries allowed?: Yes, you are allowed to submit more than one entry, as long as the images are from different bodies of work.
I started this 'ongoing' project a long time ago, can I still submit it?: Yes, it does not matter when you started this work.
Is it possible to edit submissions?: Editing submissions will be possible upon request.
Do you accept submission from two photographers?: Yes, if you create a work with another photographer you can submit jointly.

Latest News Recent achievements by Gomma Grant shortlisted and winners.

Isik Kaya receives the Audience Award at Prix Levallois.

Prix Levallois, France | 10 April 2021

Isik Kaya, the First Prize winner of the 2020 Gomma Grant, won the Audience Award at the renowned Prix Levallois.

New book out soon by Salah Benacer.

New Book | Out soon

Salah Benacer, whom received the Third Prize at the 2020 Gomma Grant, is about to publish his new photobook: "I am a Berika".

Aaron Yeandle, first place at Fine Art Photography Awards..

Firs Prize award | 2021

Aaaron Yeandle, shortlisted Gomma Grant 2020, received first place, in the open theme category, for the Fine Art Photography Awards.

Simone Sapienza exhibits at Foam.

Foam Talent, Berlin | 20 October 2020

Simone Sapienza, Best Rising Talent at Gomma Grant 2018, selected to exhibit at FOAM Talent 2020 ✨ In collaboration with the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation and C/O Berlin.

Camillo Pasquarelli featured in "il Reportage".

New article | Out now

Camillo Pasquarelli, Best Rising talent at Gomma Photography Grant 2019, is featured in the renowned "il Reportage" magazine.

Margaret Lansink, published her new book.

New Book | Out Now

SELECTED AS ONE OF THE BEST DUTCH BOOK DESIGNS 2019, Margaret Lansink new book ' The Kindness of One' is now available for purchase.

Igor Pisuk, Third PLace winner at Gomma Grant in 2016 published his first book.

New Book | Out Now

Awarded at PHOTO-EYE BEST BOOKS 2019 – Favorite Book of the Year chosen by Dewi Lewis BOOK PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR ...

Marie Tomanova published with Paradigm.

New book | Out now

Marie Tomanova, Best Rising talent at Gomma Photography Grant 2018, has signed with Paradigm Publishing.

Rafael Heygster interviewed by the British Journal of Photography.

Marigold Warner | 14 April 2020

The winner of the Gomma Grant 2019, Rafael Heygster, is interviewed and featured in the renowned British Journal of Photography...

We’re Ethical

Gomma Grant rewards the work, not the name, and not the curriculum vitae. We award photographers regardless of their past success or network. We look at the works with fresh minds and eyes freed from any dogma or modus operandi.

We’re Longstanding

Gomma started almost 20 years ago, in 2004 from a south London basement-flat. We are established but still young because we don't want our many years of experience to steal our freshness and our beginners' minds.

We have Magic

There is something magical and awkward and stylish at the same time about Gomma. We are pretty unique with a constant out-of-the-box attitude. We don't believe the hype and don’t follow any trends. We are the trend makers.

We love Simplicity

We don't like articulated slogans and sophisticated vocabulary. We believe that the arts should be for everyone. And this is why from this year we have made it simpler to submit your work for the grant.

We’re not money-driven

Gomma is run by a few artists that have their own means of economic nourishment from other jobs. So we don't know too much about profits and business. That is why from this year, due to the recent dramatic circumstances we have decided to donate all our net profits to charities.

We're Supportive

We do not just award cash prizes because we also push both the winning and shortlisted works. Photographers that are recognized through the Gomma Grant are known to have grown their career to a higher level, both professionally and artistically.

What people say?

The Gomma Grant has been going since 2014, and has picked up a reputation for finding cutting-edge and emerging work.

The British Journal of Photography.

What people say?

Gomma Grant does award undetected photographers from around the world that work in various genres.

All About Photo.

What people say?

Since its foundation in 2004, Gomma has gained a reputation for promoting emerging photographers, oftentimes completely unknown within the industry, applying a strict meritocratic approach to judging.

Photographic Museum of Humanity/ Ph Museum.

What people say?

I always looked at the Gomma Grant as something very special; a kind of graduation in a specific kind of authorial and uncommonly amazing photography.

Marco Marzocchi - Gomma Grant Winner