The Serendipity Arles Grant 2025 is a prestigious biennial initiative designed to elevate lens-based artists from South Asia. Jointly organized by the Serendipity Arts Foundation and Les Rencontres d’Arles, this grant supports photographers, videographers, and new media practitioners exploring innovative storytelling through visual media. Open to residents of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, the grant aims to amplify regional voices while fostering cross-cultural dialogue.
The grant unfolds in two phases: Phase I selects five shortlisted artists, each awarded INR 70,000 (≈€800) to develop their projects for a work-in-progress showcase at the Serendipity Arts Festival 2025 in Goa. From these, one winner advances to Phase II, receiving €15,000 (split between project development and production costs) and a solo exhibition at Les Rencontres d’Arles in France in 2026. This dual-stage structure ensures both emerging and established artists gain visibility, mentorship, and logistical support.
Key dates include a submission deadline of April 18, 2025, with Phase I results announced by May 23, 2025. Notably, there are no entry fees, making this one of the free photo contests offering substantial financial backing. The grant prioritizes projects that are unpublished and rooted in photography, video, VR, AI, or other lens-based technologies. While the monetary rewards are significant, the true value lies in international exposure and institutional validation from two globally recognized arts organizations.
The Serendipity Arles Grant 2025 Prizes
Prizes awarded through the Serendipity Arles Grant 2025 are substantial, making them highly coveted among lens-based artists. Five shortlisted artists initially receive INR 70,000 (€800 approx.) each for developing their proposed projects, presented at the Serendipity Arts Festival 2025 in Goa.
The grand prize awarded in Phase II includes:
- €7,500 as direct artist support (project development fee)
- €7,000 for production expenses (printing, framing, logistics, and presentation at Les Rencontres d’Arles 2026)
- €500 for accommodation expenses during the showcase at Arles
- Up to €1,200 covered in airfare costs for international travel
- Visa facilitation support
This extensive financial backing ensures artists can focus solely on creating and showcasing their work, without the burden of additional financial stress.
Serendipity Arles Grant 2025 Dates and Entry Fees
Important Dates:
- Submission Deadline: April 18, 2025, at 11:59 pm IST
- Announcement of 5 Shortlisted Artists: May 23, 2025
- Work-in-Progress Showcase: December 2025 at Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa
- Final Winner Announcement: December 2025 (during Serendipity Arts Festival)
- Final Project Showcase: July 2026 at Les Rencontres d’Arles, France
Entry Fees:
The Serendipity Arles Grant 2025 is a free photo contest, meaning artists can submit entries at no cost.
Why Enter Serendipity Arles Grant 2025?
The Serendipity Arles Grant 2025 is unique among other photography contests and challenges because of its generous financial support, significant international exposure, and the chance to exhibit at prestigious global art festivals. Beyond monetary awards, participants gain exceptional visibility in the international art scene, a critical opportunity for professional growth and networking. This exposure is particularly valuable for South Asian artists, promoting intercultural dialogues and offering a platform for showcasing fresh, innovative artistic visions. For those exploring best photography contests, this grant offers unparalleled support for ambitious, socially driven projects.
Rules and Copyright
This section about the rules and image rights of the Serendipity Arles Grant 2025 has been generated automatically. If you are interested in participating in this contest we suggest you review the complete rules provided by the contest.
Rules
Eligibility is restricted to lens-based practitioners from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, who must be residents of these countries. Applicants need 5 to 10 years of practice and must be 30 years or older at the time of the grant announcement. Projects submitted must be in progress or new, and cannot have been exhibited previously, wholly or partially. Artists currently holding another grant awarded within the past year for the same project are ineligible. Participation in a residency between September and December 2025 also disqualifies an applicant. Submissions must be from individual artists or artist collectives; collaborations with curators or institutions are not eligible. Shortlisted artists are responsible for their own visa, local transport, and food costs if attending the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa, and any production costs exceeding the Phase 1 grant. The final winner is responsible for determining their tax liability related to the grant award. Incomplete applications will be disqualified.
Copyright and Usage
Artists retain copyright of their work. However, securing any necessary permissions for image content or production is the sole responsibility of the artist. Regarding the physical works, both the Serendipity Arts Festival (for Phase 1) and Les Rencontres d’Arles (for Phase 2) recommend sending exhibition prints that will be destroyed after the showcase. If artists require the return of their works, they are responsible for arranging and covering the costs of return transport from Goa and Arles, respectively. At the conclusion of the project, the final grant recipient may choose to donate an artwork to the collections of Rencontres d’Arles and Serendipity Arts, but this is optional.
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For more information and to participate in the contest, visit: the official website.
