The New Orleans Photo Alliance’s Grants

The Michael P. Smith Fund For Documentary Photography was created by the New Orleans Photo Alliance to honor the life and work of Michael P. Smith, one of New Orleans’ most legendary and beloved documentary photographers.  The MPS Fund awards one $5000 grant annually to a Gulf Coast photographer whose work combines artistic excellence and a sustained commitment to a long-term cultural documentary project.

Both emerging and established photographers residing in the Gulf Coast states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida are eligible to apply. The subject matter for the proposed project is not limited to the Gulf Coast region.

Read more about the Michael P. Smith Fund for Documentary Photography here.

Funeral of Emile Victor Clay, image by Michael P. Smith, 1996;
© The Historic New Orleans Collection

The Clarence John Laughlin Award

The Clarence John Laughlin Award was created by the New Orleans Photo Alliance to support the work of photographers who use the medium as a means of creative expression. It honors the life and work of Clarence John Laughlin (1905-1985), a New Orleans photographer best known for his surrealist images of the American South. The Clarence John Laughlin Award grants one $5000 prize annually to a photographer whose work exhibits sustained artistic excellence and creative vision.

Both emerging and established photographers residing in the U.S. may apply. There are no restrictions on subject matter or genres.

The Magnificent Spiral (No. 5) by Clarence John Laughlin, 1948.
© The Historic New Orleans Collection. Accession number 1981.247.1.981.