Henri Cartier-Bresson Creation Award

About the Open Call

The Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson is a state-approved non-profit institution dedicated to the preservation and transmission of the work of Henri Cartier-Bresson and Martine Franck. True to the wishes of its two founders, the Fondation also exhibits the work of other artists. For the past twenty years, the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson has been presenting a unique exhibition program, showcasing an exceptional range of photographic works. Awarded every two years, the Henri Cartier-Bresson Creation Award (formerly known as HCB Award) supports a photographer in the realization or pursuit of an ambitious project. The Henri Cartier-Bresson Creation Award is aimed at established photographers, who already have a strong documentary-inspired body of work. The recipient of the Henri Cartier-Bresson Creation Award receives an allocation of 35,000 euros, to be used for both an exhibition at the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson and a publication. The Fondation d’entreprise Hermès is the patron of the Henri Cartier-Bresson Creation Award. The winner is chosen by an international jury of seven art professionals. The 35,000 endowment is intended to help the winner complete his or her project. In addition, he/she will be given support in developing his/her project and curating the exhibition. The Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson covers the production and publishing costs. The 2025 recipient agrees to exhibit his/her project in 2027 at the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson and supervise the making of the publication. He/she agrees to complete his/her project before October 2026 and not to exhibit or publish the project in total or partial form prior to the exhibition at the Fondation, without the latter’s formal agreement. He/she agrees to transfer the reproduction, exploitation and distribution rights of fifteen images for the promotion of both the exhibition and the Henri Cartier-Bresson Creation Award. He/she agrees to credit the Henri Cartier-Bresson Creation Award in all future exhibitions or publications of the project.

What is Offered

The recipient of the Henri Cartier-Bresson Creation Award receives an allocation of 35,000 euros, to be used for both an exhibition at the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson and a publication. The Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson covers the production and publishing costs. The winner will also receive support in developing his/her project and curating the exhibition.

Requirements

The Henri Cartier-Bresson Creation Award is open to photographers of all nationalities and all ages who have already completed a significant documentary-based body of work. Applicants should be in a position to demonstrate several personal exhibitions and publications (monographs and/or catalogs). Applicants are required to be sponsored by a photography professional (critic, curator, head of institution, gallery owner, publisher, academic). Unsponsored applications will not be considered.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online via the dedicated form. Incomplete applications will not be examined. Candidates must ensure that they have included all the required documents in their application: they will not be notified of any missing documents. Applicants must submit their application in English. Non-English speakers must have their application form and documents translated into English. Applications submitted in any other language will not be considered. Submitting an application implies unreserved agreement to all the conditions outlined in this page. Applications will have to include the following elements: A project proposal (maximum 2,000 signs); A reference letter signed by a photography professional outlining why he/she supports the application (maximum 2,000 signs); A selection of 15 photographs assembled in a .zip file (<10 Mo); A .pdf of a publication on the applicant’s work, or a link to a video showing the inside of the publication.