In 2021 Martin Parr Foundation launched a photographic bursary to support Black, Asian and minority ethnic photographers in the UK.
“It was a real privilege to be able to review so much talented and varied work. The submissions displayed originality, thoughtful execution and a real understanding of their chosen subject matter; be that the complexity of one’s identity, familial ties and sense of place. It’s been a difficult period for artists, but this group of individuals are out there, committed to their storytelling and I’m looking forward to seeing how they expand their projects.” – Fiona Rogers / Founder, Firecracker
Due to the high quality of submissions an additional fourth bursary was awarded.
Kavi Pujara
To continue the series ‘Semper Eadem’, a project documenting two waves of migration from Gujarat, India to Leicester.
Photo – A newly arrived Portuguese Gujarati textile worker finds a quiet corner to make a call in the yard of one of Leicester’s numerous textile factories. Leicester 2019 © Kavi Pujara
Teresa Eng
To continue the series ‘Elephant’, a ten year long documentary project that explores the changing nature of neighbourhoods and cities.
Photo – Shania & Elle, 2018 © Teresa Eng. From the series ‘Elephant’.
Ryan Prince
To continue the project ‘Can You Sit For Me?’ exploring representation and mass stereotyping within the media.
Photo – Mum 01 © Ryan Prince
Sukhjeven Singh
To begin the project ‘PR1V4TES’, a photographic series showcasing car owners and their private registration plates, in a society where private license plates can be a symbol of status, social identity, faith, ego, class and more.
Photo – From the series ‘PR1V4TES’ © Sukhjeven Singh
Each bursary will provide £1,000 to develop their project as well as mentoring. Bursary recipients will donate two prints from the above projects to the MPF Collection. Stay tuned to hear more about each of the projects and follow their development throughout the year.
This bursary coincides with the Martin Parr Foundation remit to champion British documentary photography and to support overlooked and emerging photographers.
Many thanks to our judges Bindi Vora, Fiona Rogers and Martin Parr.
“I am really pleased that we were able to offer four bursaries to enable the continuation of photography projects by artists Teresa Eng, Kavi Pujara, Ryan Prince and Sukhjevan Singh. It was a pleasure to look at all the work submitted, the entries exemplified the diverse practitioners creating photography in the UK. The bursary recipients’ projects respond to the importance of community, histories of migration, observations on the gentrification of space around us, and sharing ideas of how we might care for family in such challenging times. I very much look forward to seeing how each project develops in the coming months.” – Bindi Vora / Curator, Autograph