Germaine Van Parys Award

Women Photography Award

An award to celebrate women behind cameras.
An award to recognize the talent of Belgium’s first female photojournalist
An award to support projects by women photographers

At the initiative of the Alderwoman for Culture of the City of Brussels, the Germaine Van Parys Award returns for a second edition. By providing funding for women working in photography, this award aims at raising the profile of their work. The goal is to make up for the lack of diversity in the profession.

Heiress to a strong documentary tradition, Belgian photography has for too long been the privilege of a few. The lack of women’s stories in the media, museums and galleries has perpetuated gender inequalities. The Belgian photography sector, which is particularly rich in terms of training, now reflects another reality: the number of women studying or working as photographers is constantly rising. The winners of the Germaine Van Parys 2024 Award, Marie Sordat and Cécili Matureli (student prize), bear witness to this.
To take things even further, the Germaine Van Parys Award is taking on a new form this year, offering a production grant and three mentoring grants. This new formula makes it possible both to support an original project by an established artist and to support a new generation of women photographers, by enabling them to explore their documentary approach in greater depth through a ten-month programme.

The first grant, the Germaine Van Parys Award, is for professional photographers. The Découvertes (Discovery) Award is aimed at young graduates in photography from Brussels’ schools.
This award allows projects to be built over the long term. A time needed to create a link with our subject, to understand and explain the challenges of the world around us. It also allows for different viewpoints and work towards greater recognition of women photographers within the profession.

By rewarding women photographers whose work renews approaches and questions the role of the image, this award aims to support an essential change that is taking place today.

GERMAINE VAN PARYS AWARD

– Mid-career women photographers, regardless of nationality, or geographical location

– Theme: A topic related to Brussels

– New or ongoing photographic project. The project must not have been previously published, exhibited or submitted to another prize. The main genres of the open call is documentary.

THE GERMAINE VAN PARYS AWARD
A production grant of EUR 8,000 for an original documentary project by a professional photographer, lasting 10 months.
The theme must be related to the City of Brussels.

DISCOVERY AWARD
Three graduates from schools in the 1000 Brussels area will be selected and given support to carry out their photography projects.
Open subject.
The two awards will be the subject of a joint exhibition at the end of 2025 in Brussels.