The Rebecca Vassie Trust is a charitable organisation supporting the art of long-form narrative photography, and promoting education in and through photography for emerging professionals, young people and the broader public.
The Trust was set up following the tragic death of the British photographer and photojournalist Rebecca Vassie, aged 30, while on assignment in Uganda in 2015. The Trust is inspired by the drive Beccy had to capture under-represented human stories and her struggle to get the work she saw as important into the public arena. We provide platforms and support to make and share new work, from new perspectives, on important human issues, while developing practitioners’ craft and public appreciation.
Beccy was also an advocate for equality and diversity in the arts. We echo this passion through our education work with the public to grow skills, develop alternative viewpoints, and give new methods of visual communication to all.
Through the annual Rebecca Vassie Memorial Award we fund a new photo essay every year. Projects have explored an Islamic minority in Israel, social deprivation in Glasgow, the role of therapy in post-genocide Rwanda, a fresh light on Britain’s oldest generation, and refugees finding home in Northern England.
Applications for our sixth Memorial Award will open late 2023/early 2024.
Applicants who have been longlisted for our Memorial Award are invited to join our Development Network, where they gain access to seed funding to develop new ideas and small grants to support training and craft development, as well as ad hoc opportunities such as our series of rapid response commissions around the coronavirus pandemic. We also fund a growing programme of workshops where members of our network share narrative photography skills with the community.
Meanwhile the Trust showcases new work online, through social media, in exhibitions and in print, and shares information on other opportunities widely on our website, through social media and through our newsletter.
Articles about the Trust can be found in The British Journal of Photography, The Times and BBC News.
The work of the Trust is funded through donations, sponsored activity and print sales. Read more about our Trustees here.
from The Fish That Never Swam by Kirsty Mackay, winner of 2018 Memorial Award
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