Applications for the ISSP 2019 are now closed. We received around 160 applications from 43 countries, 6 continents of the world. The 73 ISSP 2019 participants were selected with help of our expert Jury (below).

Who can apply?
The ISSP is designed for emerging photographers and artists wishing to transform their relationship with the medium and take the next step in their artistic practice. Practitioners of various other disciplines dealing with connections between visual art and society are also welcome to apply this year. Relevance of the applicant's practice to this year's subject, "Photography and the World", is decisive. 

Basic requirements for applicants:

  • Have an active interest in photography as an artistic medium, chosen profession, or mode of addressing society; 
  • Have completed at least one long-term photographic project or are actively using photography in their social practice;
  • Are proficient with the use of a camera and post-processing images (if relevant for selected workshop/s);
  • Are able to understand and express themselves freely in English;
  • Are at least 18 years old at the time of application; there is no upper age limit; 
  • Bringing your own laptop for post-processing of the images is a near necessity;

Artists and practitioners of all backgrounds, interests and ages are encouraged to apply. Previous ISSP participants come from over 30 countries of the world, 5 continents. We provide visa invitations and grant support letters to all participants upon request.

To apply
Submit an electronic APPLICATION FORM including a small portfolio of images representing your practice. Please also include your motivation for taking part in a specific workshop/s (each participant will be taking part in one workshop, you can indicate 3 in order of priority).
Application deadline : 10 April 2019 (closed)
The results of the selection process will be communicated by the end of April.
The participants must confirm their place by paying the advance participation fee within 5 days of notification. 


Participation fee
The ISSP is a non-commercial event, aimed to promote the development of emerging photographers. The fees are kept as low as possible to allow the most talented participants to take part. 
The participants are responsible for the costs of production and printing of their work, transport to the location (including all visa-related costs if necessary) and incidental expenses during their stay. 

A number of scholarships are available for selected participants - please see Scholarships for more information.


Selection of participants
ISSP has a limited number of places - we can host up to 72 participants in six workshops (12 per workshop). The participants are selected based on the quality of their application&portfolio and relevance of the workshops to their current practice. The evaluation of applications is performed by the Expert Jury (see below). The final decision on admission and workshop allocation is taken by ISSP.  When admitted, you will be offered a place at a specific workshop, based on the priorities expressed in the application. 

Cancellations
In the unlikely case of cancellation of a workshop, the participants will be offered a place in a different workshop or fully reimbursed any payments made in advance. If the participants cancel participation from their side: in case the cancelation is done by 1 June, 50% of the advance fee will be be returned; in case the cancelation is done after 1 June, the advance payment will not be returned. 
 

ISSP 2019 Expert Jury

Elena Vaninetti (Milan, IT) - photo editor, online editor of YET magazine since 2013. She is also a co-director of Twenty14 Contemporary, art gallery and project space in Milan. She teaches Photography Criticism at Officine Fotografiche Milano and regularly holds lectures and portfolio reviews. 

Krzysztof Candrowicz (Lodz, PL) - curator, art director, researcher and facilitator. Co-founder of the Foundation of Visual Education and the International Festival of Photography in Lodz, Poland, artistic director of the Triennial of Photography in Hamburg in Germany and a curator of Porto Biennial in Portugal.

Agata Bar (Amsterdam, NL) - editorial Director at NOOR Images. She has been working with photography since 2006 in Poland and in the Netherlands with different institutions such as Krakow Photomonth, Unseen, Foam Magazine, organizing, producing and curating festivals, events and exhibitions. She has gained knowledge of the photography market from both an artistic and commercial perspective.

Erik Vroons (Amsterdam, NL) - freelance writer, editor, and mentor; editor-at-large at GUP Magazine. Combines an academic background with practical skills - he holds an MA in Photographic Studies (Leiden University) and Media Studies (University of Amsterdam) and regularly runs workshops and portfolio reviews at international photography festivals and events.

Should you have any questions about the applications, you are welcome to contact us at office@issp.lv.