To bring focus to the storytelling
aspect of the USk Mission we call on sketchers around the world
to send us reportage project proposals.
The USk Reportage Grant
Program is designed to highlight the best examples of these efforts
and to inspire new artist-reporters in our community.
It is our great pleasure to
announce the winners of the 2024 USK Reportage Grant. We received 52
submissions from around the globe on a wide variety of topics.
Discover
the selection of winning 2024 projects here!
Urban Sketchers is now inviting
applications to receive a Reportage Grant in 2025. The winning proposals
will be awarded a grant of up to 400 USD to cover expenses related to the
project.
- Closing
date for applications noon UTC 31 August 2025.
- Winners
will be notified by 31 October 2025.
- Finished
reportage projects to be submitted by 31 May 2026
Click here to download the application template and prepare
your proposal
What is Reportage?
Reportage is a visual account of a
cultural phenomenon, event, current history, etc., based in drawings completed
from direct observation while on location. The drawings have to tell a story by
capturing an event and showing context, characters, and setting. Sketches are
accompanied by short pieces of narrative writing presented directly on the
drawings or added separately. The narrative is informed by firsthand account,
research, and interviews. A successful visual reportage gives viewers a feeling
for the setting and the people.
How does the selection process
work?
All proposals will be evaluated by
the USk selection committee. The merit of each proposal will be judged on the
following criteria:
- 1. Aligns with Urban
Sketchers Vision and Values
- 2.
Storytelling potential as evident in drawings and narrative text
- 3.
Showcases a unique aspect of a community, place, time, event, or larger
culture
- 4.
Potential to be developed into a complete and compelling story
How can I get inspired?
Check out the 2021
Reportage Grant winning entries and 2023
Reportage Grant recipients here.
If you
haven’t yet watched USk Talks, dedicated to all things Urban Sketchers visit
the official USk YouTube channel.
In Season 2 we
looked in depth into the practice of visual reportage and storytelling inviting
artist reports, sketchers, and the winners of the Reportage proposal call to
come and share their work and knowledge with the community.
What do I
need to submit?
Upload a
PDF document (under 20Mb) containing your proposal. Please include at
least five sketches that are related to your project or preliminary research.
Include a short narrative along with your sketches that answers these
questions:
As you
work on your visual reportage we ask that you document your project in photos,
videos, and other media as much as you can. These could include photos of you
sketching on location, photos of your subject and the setting, audio files of
interviews with your subjects, time lapses, and so on.
What
happens if my proposal is selected?
Winning
proposals in 2025 will receive a grant of up to 500 USD in order to offset
expenses related to the project.
The
authors will have approximately 6 months to complete the proposed project
including the completion of at least 12 on-location sketches that tell the
story in a reportage format.
If your
proposal is selected we will ask you to grant USk non-exclusive usage rights to
publish your completed reportage on our channels as a condition to receiving
the grant. You will retain full copyright of your images and can publish it
elsewhere.
Other
things to know
- If English is not your first
language, we will work with you to edit text for clarity if needed.
- You may also submit posts in
other languages, and we will try to find volunteer translators to work
with you.
- All accepted proposals go
through a collaborative editorial process.
- We reserve the right not to
include all the sketches originally submitted.
- All submitted text may be
edited for accuracy, grammar and clarity.
- Sketchers of all abilities and
styles are encouraged to apply. You can submit a proposal as an individual
sketcher or form a creative collaboration with someone else or engage your
whole chapter in this project.
Please
contact education@urbansketchers.org with
any questions.
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