Google's Creator Labs and Aperture are pleased to launch the Creator Labs Photo Fund - a new initiative providing financial support to artists in the wake of COVID-19. With artists and creatives heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, it has never been more important and vital to provide support for this community. 

Submissions will be free and open to any photographer or lens-based artist living in the United States, and twenty selected artists will be awarded a prize of $5,000 each. To apply to the Creator Labs Photo Fund, all entrants will need to submit 8 to 10 images from one body of work, showing a commitment to making a cohesive and compelling series or project. The project does not need to be finished in order to enter. Entrants will not be evaluated on the basis of prior experience, publications, or exhibition history, but instead on the strength and originality of their vision.

This fund is made possible by Google Devices and Services in partnership with Aperture.

What Winners Receive

Twenty selected artists will be awarded a prize of $5,000 each, and will be featured on aperture.org and across Aperture's social media channels

About Creator Labs

Creator Labs is a visual arts incubator that supports rising talents in the creation of new work about important cultural narratives. Founded in 2019 as a partnership between Google Pixel and SN37, Creator Labs provides the resources for photographers, filmmakers and YouTubers to capture personal work that is grounded in a social cause.

About Aperture 

Aperture, a not-for-profit foundation, connects the photo community and its audiences with the most inspiring work, the sharpest ideas, and with each other---in print, in person, and online. Created in 1952 by photographers and writers as "common ground for the advancement of photography," Aperture today is a multi-platform publisher and center for dialogue within the photo community.

Entry Requirements

All artists applying for the Creator Labs Photo Fund must meet the following requirements: 

• You are a photographer or lens-based artist

• You are currently living in the United States

• You are 18 years of age or older

• You can submit 8-10 images from one cohesive body of work. The project does not need to be finished in order to enter, but should have been created in the last three years

Juror information

The Creator Labs Photo Fund jury comprises Aperture's experienced editors and staff.

What is the entry fee?
There is no entry fee to enter the Creator Labs Photo Fund.

Can I submit individual images from different projects?
No. Entrants must submit from one body of work or project. We are looking for a cohesive body of work that speaks to the creator's commitment to storytelling and expression through photography. However, this body of work does not need to be completed; your images can be from an ongoing project.

Can I submit fewer than the required 8 images in the competition?
You will need to submit a minimum of 8 images. The evaluators are expecting to see a number of images that equate to a range---i.e., a portfolio of images---and therefore we will not accept submissions that contain fewer than 8 images.

If I live outside the continental United States, am I still eligible for entry?
Unfortunately no. The Creator Labs Photo Fund  is only open to artists currently based in the United States. If selected as a winner, Aperture will require a W9, U.S address, and bank account.

What does it mean to say no further obligation? If selected, do I have to make a new body of work with the money I receive?
The Creator Labs Photo Fund is about supporting and sustaining an Artist's current practice. There are no restrictions on how the awarded money is used, and we do not impose reporting obligations. Artists are not required to make new work with the  money received; the goal is to sustain artists' practice during this difficult time. The sole obligation under this award is permitting Aperture Foundation and Google to use the submitted photographs if it chooses.

Does Aperture,  Creator Labs, or Google own the work that is submitted?
Copyrights to all work submitted in connection with this award remain with the respective entrants, however, the entrant grants to Aperture Foundation and Google LLC  a worldwide, irrevocable, and perpetual license to reproduce representative examples of the submitted entries in any of their publications, websites, and/or in any promotional material, strictly in connection with the Creator Labs Photo Fund,  and with reference to the photographer as relevant in each case.

Will my work be published by Aperture?
At the time of the winners announcement, all selected artists will have their work featured online in an article on aperture.org. 

I would like to submit work that has already been published. Will that affect my chances of winning?
It's perfectly fine to submit work that has already been published, and no, it will not affect your chances of being selected as the winner.

Can I submit more than one portfolio?
No, you may only submit one portfolio.

Can I edit my portfolio once it has already been submitted?
Yes, you can edit your submission up until the deadline. To do so, log in to your Picter account and click the "Submission" tab at the top of the screen. Under "Completed" you should see your submission. Click "edit" at the top of the page to edit your submission.

I create work as part of a team or collective. Can we enter work under our collective name?
Yes but with the understanding that the collective as a whole would be awarded, not individuals of the collective. The collective would have to agree to a joint w9, bank account, and individuals would have to have U.S addresses. 

What are the specs for uploading images?
Images must be at least 3,000 pixels wide and saved as a JPG file. Other file types such as TIFF, PNG, and PSD are not permissible. If you continue to have issues uploading your images or completing your submission, visit the Picter help center or e-mail the Picter support team at support@picter.com.

Where can I sign up for a Picter account?
To sign up, please visit Picter.com

What if I run out of time?
No exceptions will be made for late submissions. Please allow for ample time to complete your entry.

Is the $5,000 prize money taxable?
Yes, the $5,000 is taxable. All federal, state, and/or local income and other taxes, if any, are the winner's sole responsibility.

I still need help. Who can I contact?
Send an email to photofund@aperture.org.