The Shpilman Institute

The Shpilman Institute for Photography Announces its First Annual Grants Program – Call for Papers

The Shpilman Institute for Photography (The SIP), founded by philanthropist Shalom Shpilman, supports innovative research that advances the understanding of photography and related media. The SIP announces two calls for papers for its 2011 Grants Program. The first is devoted specifically to research in philosophy and photography; the second is a general call for research in the field of photography.

Grants for individuals and group research will range from US $5,000 up to $15,000. Academic faculty at accredited institutions of higher education, currently enrolled Ph.D. candidates, previously published independent scholars, photographic practitioners, and research-oriented curators are invited to apply. Grants are based on proposals for research leading to the completion within the grant period of a written document, whether an essay or extended research paper, showing deep consideration and thorough, original research on the selected topic. Proposals are for written work only, not for art projects, exhibitions or events such as conferences or symposia.

Shalom Shpilman, the Institutes founder says, “I look forward to seeing the stimulating proposals for research and for creative collaborations between artists and theorists. The inauguration of The SIP Grants Program is another step in the inquiry of the photography field that has commenced with the Shpilman Prize for Excellence in Photography, given earlier this year at the Israel Museum.”

Themes

Five themes have been identified for each of The SIP 2011 calls. Applicants are invited to submit proposals for the philosophy call or the general call, but not for both. Researchers are welcome to use these themes as starting points for their proposed work.

Themes for the Philosophy and Photography Call

• Photography as a Site for Ontological Inquiry
• Photography and its Relationship to Nature and Technology
• Photography and Memory, Photography as Memory
• Photography and the Fact-Value Debate
• Realism and Anti-Realism Revisited through Photography

Themes for the General Call in Research on Photography

• Photography and the Body
• Photography and Other Media
• Photography and Privacy
• Album, Archive, Database, Flickr
• Pre-history of Photography

“The SIP team is excited about taking its first step into the international research arena and is proud of the leading theorists and curators that have agreed to participate in the evaluation of the calls. I believe that the SIP Calls for Research will be a significant contribution to research not only in the arts and the humanities but also in additional disciplines,” said Romi Mikulinsky Managing Director of The SIP.

Submissions and Deadline

Please visit http://www.thesip.org for full information and guidelines regarding the calls and themes, the application process, and submission guidelines. All submissions and papers are in English. Deadline for submissions is March 1, 2011.

About The Shpilman Institute of Photography (The SIP)

The SIP is a research institute whose mission is to initiate and support innovative scholarly work and artistic projects that will advance the understanding of the varied meanings, functions, and significances of photography and related media. Our activities will expand the understanding of photography’s expressions, applications, ideologies, and the mechanisms that underlie its practices. The SIP not only seeks to understand the world of photography but also to understand the world through photography, both within and beyond traditional social and cultural boundaries.