The Royal Photographic society is a charity which was started in 1853, now available to anyone that wishes to join. They provide many services such as workshops, exhibitions, talks, qualifications, bursaries and competitions.
TPA/RPS Environmental Bursary
There are many different fundings and bursaries available to apply for, the one that looks most interesting to me is the Environmental bursary. This is a £4000 bursary to help fund the travel and equipment to aid for the creation of a project that promotes environmental awareness. On the website they say that “Applications are invited from anyone living or studying in the United Kingdom with a talent for taking photographs and an interest in the environmental concerns that we face today.”
Application
To apply, you need to send in 8 photographs (with or without captions) that relate to past projects, along with a very detailed description about what you would use the bursary for. You also need to show consideration for minimising your own environmental impact whilst you are completing the project. Your work will be published on the The Photographic Angle and RPS websites, so consider mediums accordingly. You also have to explain how your idea will reach as many people as possible, and they are looking for a creative project as well as elements of documentary.
Harry Borden – Over 30s Recipient 2018
Harry Borden was the winner of the bursary in 2018, who used it to make the project ‘Four Hugs Wide’ along with poet Mireille Thornton. Borden began as a celebrity portrait photographer and during a commissioned photoshoot with Thornton they got talking about creating a project about nature. The Work tells stories of people who live with and work with trees, and explores their relationships with nature, with the title coming from their first sitter who described a particular tree as ‘four hugs wide’.
In an interview about the project, Borden is asked about what he would like people to take away from the project and says that
“I would hope that people would reflect on the fact that the world is in crisis and that there are other ways of living your life which aren’t about n insatiable desire for material things.” – Hour Hugs Wide at The Plough, Torrington on Vimeo
