Presented by the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, the HCB Award is a prize to stimulate a photographer’s creativity by offering the opportunity to carry out a project that would otherwise be difficult to achieve. Institutions and recognised photography experts worldwide are invited to nominate photographers.

It is intended for photographers who have already completed a significant body of work, a talented photographer in the emerging phase of his or her career with an approach close to that of documentary. Candidates should be nominated by an institution (museum, gallery, independent curator, publisher…).

The prize is of 35 000 Euros and is awarded every other year.

DEADLINE for NOMINATIONS (direct applications are not possible): 30 April 2015

Eighteen months after the reception of the prize, the winner will have an exhibition of his or her work at the Fondation HCB in Paris and a catalogue will be published.  The HCB Award is made possible with the partnership of the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès. From 2015, as part as its new alliance with Aperture Foundation, the Fondation d’entreprise Hermès will carry further the prize-winner’s production with a show in New York

First set up by Robert Delpire in 1988, the HCB Award was revived in 2003 whith the opening of the HCB Foundation. The prize was awarded to Chris Killip in 1989 and to Josef Koudelka in 1991.

Image: Vermont, 1960 © Henri Cartier-Bresson / Magnum Photos, Courtesy Fondation HCB