*Photo collage above is a sample of images from the 2024 grant honorees. From left to right, top to bottom, photos by Farshid Tighehsaz, Ingmar Björn Nolting, Nicolò Filippo Rosso, Victor Blue, Justin Dalaba, Ana Maria Arevalo Gosen, Rafael Vilela, Fatma Fahmy, Roberto García Roa, Masood Sarwer.
The Alexia at Syracuse University is a vibrant hub for aspiring and professional documentary photographers and filmmakers. Based at the prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, The Alexia was established to support and nurture photographers who produce compelling visual storytelling. Through grants and scholarships, The Alexia empowers both students and professionals to dive into projects that shine a light on important global issues. Their competition awards grant recipients not only with funds for their project, but also a brand new Sony Alpha camera and lens.
“Gifting them with a new Sony Alpha camera and Sony lens is substantial in itself," explains Bruce Strong, The Alexia endowed chair and assistant professor at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School. “This and the financial support allows The Alexia to help meet the needs of our community, enabling photographers and filmmakers to produce important storytelling projects that make a difference in our world.”
The Global Competition + Sony
Grants are awarded to applicants who can produce significant projects that share in The Alexia’s mission and who demonstrate the ability to accomplish their projects. Over several closed online sessions, jurors will select approximately 40 student and 40 professional proposals to move into the open, Sony-sponsored judging weekend April 4-5 in Syracuse, New York. Jurors, who are prominent editors, photographers and filmmakers, will then further discuss the images and project proposals, narrowing them down to the recipients and finalists.
The global competition features several awards including the two traditional Vision grants, as well as additional “pop-up” grants and scholarships as they become available. “The Alexia is actively looking for partners and opportunities to expand its programs in support of visual storytellers worldwide,” Strong says. The traditional Vision grants are awarded to one student and one professional. A recipient and runner-up are selected for each grant, as well as awards of excellence.
- The Professional Alexia Vision Grant winner receives $20,000 and a brand new professional Sony Alpha camera and lens. The runner-up will receive $1,000.
- The Student Alexia Vision Grant winner receives $2,000, acceptance to the Eddie Adams Workshop, the tuition and fees to audit three courses during a semester at the Newhouse School, and they will be considered for a paid position as research assistant to The Alexia chair. The runner-up will receive $500.
The competition is a fantastic platform for showcasing the power of visual storytelling to tackle global issues. Equipping recipients with a new Sony Alpha camera supports them at the highest levels with cameras like the Sony Alpha 1 II, Sony Alpha 9 III and Sony Alpha 7R V – the go-to tools for many of the best documentary photographers, photojournalists and filmmakers.
More On The Alexia
The Alexia began in 1991 as the Alexia Foundation, created with the mission to promote cultural understanding and peace by supporting photographers as agents for change. In 2021, the foundation closed, rebranded as The Alexia, and transitioned into the Newhouse School, where the grant judging has been held since its inception.
The Alexia’s commitment plays a pivotal role in championing the significance and influence of documentary photography, photojournalism and filmmaking in contemporary media.
Learn more about The Alexia and how to apply for its grants here.
See the 2024 Grant Recipients and Finalists here.
