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Grants for Analogue Photography

Grants of £500 - £1,500 are available to support photographers in projects for which use of analogue techniques are central to implementation. The next round of grants will be in 2026 and will open for application on 16th June.

For the purpose of these grants, analogue photography is defined as the predominantly film-based processes that were used before the development of digital photography. Examples include: 35mm and medium format film photography, wet plate collodion, polaroid, tintype, slide transparency, pinhole camera photography and camera-less processes such as photogram or cyanotype.

Both the Foundation’s grants schemes are currently undergoing review. New Applicant Guidance and application forms will be available from 16th June 2026.

In the meantime, the following information should help you determine if you are likely to be eligible to apply and to start considering a project that is likely to be a good fit.

Step by step guidance on the application process is set out below and in subsequent web pages. You can also download a PDF of the guidance webpages here: 

Who will be able to apply

The Foundation welcomes applications from photographers at all career stages. An application could be from an individual, or from a partnership or group coming together for the duration of the project. The Foundation will not accept applications from organisations for these grants.

Projects must take place in the UK.

If you have submitted a previously successful application you must leave it 3 years before re-applying. So, if you obtained a grant in 2022, you must wait until 2026 to apply again.

You may only submit one application in a year.

Grants Timetable for 2026

Applications open:  16th June

Closing date for applying: 30th September

Notification of award, if successful: early December

Project report due: within one year of an award and as soon as possible on completion.

What we can fund under the Analogue Grants Scheme

The Scheme funds projects which promote, preserve, develop or practise the art and techniques of analogue photography and support learning in analogue photographic techniques.

A successful project will therefore achieve some or all of the following:

• Preserve or revitalise traditional analogue photographic techniques

• Develop analogue photographic techniques in creative, imaginative or innovative ways

• Share learning and skills in the practice of analogue photography

• Raise public awareness of analogue photography as an art-form.

A project for which a grant is sought should not have already started, though it may be a phase of a longer-term programme or a part of a wider project.

Normally, projects benefitting from these grants would be expected to last for up to one year’s duration, and be implementable within the year of the grant being awarded.

You will find illustrations of some of the projects that have benefitted from past grants on the Supported Projects page of the website: Supported Projects — Richard and Siobhán Coward Foundation

Examples of projects the Foundation would not give preference to would be:

• Preservation of an archive of analogue photographs

• Projects which have been designed to sustain a predominantly commercial, profit-making photography practice.

Amount of awards

You will be able to apply for a grant of between £500 and £1,500. The Foundation can fund up to 100% of costs, but normally expects its contribution to be matched either by other funding or in-kind contributions. Artists’ fees are not eligible for an analogue grant but the Foundation would be happy to see them in the budget as an in-kind contribution.

What makes a good project?

The Foundation will give preference to projects which explore, expand and experiment with analogue techniques and which push boundaries. The more creative and imaginative the project is the more likely it is to be successful.