Mind The Lens grants are open to anyone in the world working at the intersection of mental health and photography. From mental health specialists, through to anyone working on a wellness project incorporating photography.
The panel for awarding the grants will include Fiona Shields (Head of Photography at The Guardian), Katy Cowan (Founding Editor of Creative Boom) and Picfair's own Head of Content, Philip Mowbray.
Partnering with non-profit The Photography Movement, Picfair will also launch a range of tools and free content throughout October, including a free-to-use image gallery (Picfair will pay the photographers) for anyone covering mental health ahead of World Mental Health day on October 10th. This gallery will be curated from over 500,000 photography stores on Picfair, with the aim of broadening the visual spectrum of mental health imagery available.
Mental health specialist and photographer Paul Williams, who recently featured in BBC’s Great British Photography Challenge, will also contribute guest content exploring the potential for photography on improving mental health.
Grant submissions are now open (closing Friday 29th October 2021)
https://www.picfair.com/mind-the-lens-apply
“Being with nature, enjoying the great outdoors and connecting with our environments is unequivocally linked to improved mental and physical wellbeing. We slow the pace of our lives down, feel energised and our minds are taken to a peaceful place where we can once again hear our true thoughts through the noise our often hectic personal spaces create” (Paul Williams)
The Photography Movement
A non-profit founded to help all humankind express their feelings and emotions around mental health through the medium of photography
www.thephotographymovement.com
Paul Williams
Paul promotes the power of photography to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of all people. Using his own experiences of mental illness it's his mission to support, empower and encourage everyone to pick up a camera and express themselves through the universal language of photography that speaks to all cultures, faiths, genders and communities.
https://www.paulwilliams.photography/
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with their mental health or emotional wellbeing, you can find support and resources on the mental health charity Mind’s website and NHS Every Mind Matters or access the NHS’ guide to local mental health helplines and organisations here.
You can also call the Samaritans in the UK on 116 123 for confidential support.
