Tender Visions : An Opportunity for Photographers and Writers (Up to £1000)
Tender Visions: A New Cross-Disciplinary Opportunity for African Photographers and Writers
Tender Photos has just announced an inspiring new program—Tender Visions—a cross-disciplinary commissioning opportunity tailored for photographers and writers across the African continent. With generous support from the Open Society Foundation, this initiative aims to bring compelling visual and literary storytelling to life, rooted in African realities and shaped by African voices.
If you are a photographer or writer passionate about community, culture, and critical inquiry, this is your chance to take part in a richly collaborative and generously funded creative program.
What’s the Vision?
Tender Visions will commission:
- 8 photographers to develop theme-based visual projects in their local communities
- 16 writers to craft creative or critical written responses to those photographic works
Through this pairing, photographers will receive guidance to create new, locally grounded visual narratives, while writers will produce 3,000–4,000-word essays—ranging from criticism to fiction or creative nonfiction—that respond to these photographic series.
Benefits of Tender Visions
For Photographers:
- Must be based on the African continent
- Must propose a completely new body of work (not an extension of previous projects)
- Will submit 40–50 images, with 20–30 selected for final presentation
- Will receive a £1,000 fee (includes travel expenses)
For Writers:
- Based on the African continent or in the African diaspora
- Strong preference for residents in Africa due to limited opportunities
- Must demonstrate proven experience in creative nonfiction, arts criticism, journalism, or fiction
- Will be paid £750 for their commissioned piece
- May be eligible for a travel stipend, assessed on a case-by-case basis
If you’re unsure how to communicate your creative vision or need help crafting a standout application, explore these statement of purpose examples to guide your proposal-writing process. It’s important to communicate your unique perspective clearly and convincingly.
Themes to Explore for Tender Visions
Tender Visions invites proposals based on one of the following themes (or a strong original one of your own):
- Inner Lives – Exploring the intimacy and symbolism of interior spaces
- The Aftermath – Visual reflections on the lingering impact of conflict and trauma
- In Community – Celebrating complex, dynamic African communities
- Faces – Rethinking portraiture and human identity
- General – A wildcard for unique, well-argued visions beyond these themes
Key Dates to Remember
- Application Window: June 14 – July 15, 2025 (Deadline: 11:59 p.m. GMT)
- Virtual Info Session: June 28, 2025 – Follow @tender.photo on Instagram for details
- Notifications: August 20, 2025
- Project Delivery: August–October 2025
- Publication Begins: November 2025
Photographers, apply here. Writers, apply here.
Strengthen Your Submission
As you draft your proposal or begin thinking about how your work might respond to someone else’s, you may benefit from structured feedback. Consider seeking input before you submit your piece. This guide on how to get a writing critique offers practical strategies for elevating your application through peer or mentor reviews.
Contact & Follow-Up
- Email: projects@tender.photo
- Instagram: @tender.photo
- Website: tenderphotos.com
Whether you’re photographing the nuances of post-conflict cities or writing about the pulse of shared memory and space, Tender Visions offers the support, structure, and visibility you need to create something powerful.
Apply by July 15, 2025.
