Applications now open for £20,000 photography award

The Ant Clausen Fire it up Fund – a new £20,000 award to help young people get into the creative industries – has opened for applications.  

Announced last Summer, the Fund is in memory of Liverpool based photographer and film maker Ant Clausen who tragically died last year while on holiday in his native New Zealand.  

The Fund is open to anyone aged 16 – 25 who lives, works or studies in the Liverpool City Region and is looking for help to kick start a career in the creative industries.  

The focus of the Fund is to help young photographers and film makers turn  their ‘passion into a paycheck’ and has been designed to be simple and quick to apply for.  

Uniquely, as well as offering financial support the Fund will work with award  winners to create a bespoke 12 month plan to help with their progress which  could include mentoring, training and making available opportunities and events which can be hard for someone starting out to get access to.  

The main partner in the fund is the Open Eye Gallery alongside official supporters ACC Liverpool Group and Bold Street Coffee.  

Sarah Fisher, Director at Open Eye Gallery said: 

‘Everyone involved in setting up this Fund has been inspired by the way that Ant led his life and built his career. Our ambition is not to just provide financial support to people, but to create a relationship between our partners and the award winners that is fun, straightforward and full of energy. 

I think that the chance to help young people get their foot into the creative industries should be because of their talent not because of who they know or where they studied is a very powerful thing and one that we are  hugely proud to be partners in.’  

Faye Dyer, CEO of ACC Liverpool said:  

‘As a business we had a long relationship with Ant and so many of the iconic photos of the last decade in Liverpool were shot by him. 

We are very proud to be an official supporter of the ACFIUF and are excited to provide opportunities to those who are successful in winning the awards in furthering their careers in whatever way we can.’  

Matt Farrell from GSG Hospitality who own Bold Street Coffee said: 

‘As soon as we heard about the fund we wanted to be involved. Ant was a crucial part of the creativity and culture of this city and the chance to help young aspiring photographers and film makers is something we wanted to be  a part of.  

When we have been talking to guests about the fund, the reaction has been incredible so I am really hopeful that a lot of people take the time to apply’

Applications are open now until 26 March 2024, more information about the Ant Clausen Fire it up Fund can be found here.

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