research grants: cycle 5 (2026-2027) — call for proposals

10×10 Photobooks is pleased to announce a new grant cycle and call for applications as part of its annual photobook research grants program to encourage and support scholarship on under-explored topics in photobook history.

For this cycle, 10×10 is looking for submissions related to 10×10 Photobooks’ forthcoming publication on the history of photobooks from Africa and its diaspora. We invite proposals for photobook research on Black identity, Africa and the African diaspora. The concept of the photobook for your study can be interpreted in the broadest sense possible: classic bound books, portfolios, personal albums, unpublished books, zines, digital media, scrapbooks, posters, or other ephemera. The evaluation of proposals will consider the importance of the proposed topic, how significant and/or unknown is the subject, and the strength of the proposed approach.

Grantee Expectations

Grantees are expected to present the result of their research in a 15 to 20-minute Zoom presentation along with an approximate 1500 word printed essay, including illustrations and photographs. Final research needs to be in English and will be due within a year of the grant being awarded.

10×10 will assist where able and desired with in-progress review, identifying information, making introductions, etc. 

Please note that this grant is for research purposes and not for funding of the making of a photobook.