To commemorate the organization’s fifth anniversary, Flickr and SmugMug recently announced a new grant with the Black Women Photographers collective (BWP).
In addition to a $5,000 stipend devoted to developing the recipient’s photography career, this life-changing prize comes with a two-year Flickr Pro membership and a one-year SmugMug Pro subscription. Ten worthy winners will also get a one-year subscription to SmugMug Pro and a one-year membership to Flickr Pro.
Crystal Duarte, Director of Marketing at Flickr, expressed support for the partnership, stating, “Black Women Photographers play a vital role in driving inclusivity in the photography community. We’re honored to collaborate again and help showcase the work and perspectives of these talented photographers.”
Key figures like Polly Irungu, the founder of BWP and former White House Photographer and Editor; Genesis Falls, an esteemed member of both BWP and Flickr and winner of the 2023 grant; Community Manager MacKenzie Joslin, along with the Flickr Community team; and Frederick Van Johnson from This Week in Photo, form the grant’s panel of judges.
“Community is core to the work and identity of BWP, so I’m honored to partner with a brand that has been fostering that from day one,” says Irungu. “Flickr has poured back into their community countless times, and I am excited for them to pour into the BWP community with this grant opportunity.”
How to apply
To be eligible for the grant, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Submit one image that represents the theme “the spaces you occupy.”
- Share a brief description of how your photo connects to this theme.
- Join the Black Women Photographers Flickr Group and post your submission to Flickr.
- Applications for this grant will close on April 14, 2025. We urge all eligible individuals to apply and share this incredible opportunity with their networks before the deadline.
About Black Women Photographers
Founded by Polly Irungu, and launched in July of 2020, Black Women Photographers (BWP) is a global community, directory, and hub of over 2,100 Black and African women creatives, spanning over 60 countries and 35+ U.S. states.
Black Women Photographers is a home for Black women to receive proper recognition, and, most importantly, get hired. Dedicated to providing a resource for the industry’s gatekeepers, it supports its members through promoting their work in an active database distributed to photo editors, directors, curators, and art buyers. The collective also offers free educational resources such as regular programming of webinars, workshops, training, grants, and portfolio reviews. To date, BWP has provided over $185,000 in financial grants to Black creatives.
About Flickr
Flickr, founded in 2004, is the world’s largest photography community, committed to elevating the memories, artistry, and impact of all your photos. Fueled by passionate photographers for nearly 20 years, Flickr provides users with the safest and most inclusive platform for sharing and connecting through photos and videos. Since its acquisition by SmugMug in 2018, these united brands have created the most influential photography-focused community globally. Both brands remain dedicated to continually thrilling their customers and delivering awesome as part of their evergreen mission as a company.
