CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Workshop on Investigative Environmental Storytelling

Are you a photographer or journalist working on environmental stories? Will you be attending the Professional Week at Les Rencontres d’Arles (July 7–9, 2025)? Apply for our free 4 day hybrid workshop, designed to equip visual storytellers and journalists with essential investigative skills to bring environmental stories to a wider audience.

© Tomasso Rada

What you’ll gain

Take part in an exclusive training program featuring two online seminars and two in-person talks in Arles, led by leading experts in environmental journalism, data research, and storytelling. In addition, one selected participant will be awarded a €1,500 grant to support the continuation of their project.



Workshop focus areas

  • Beyond Traditional Media – Transforming projects into books, exhibitions, or multimedia formats to reach a wider audience.

  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration – Working with scientists, activists, and policymakers to enhance storytelling depth.

  • Case Studies – Examining impactful environmental photography projects.

  • Climate Visuals & Public Perception – Understanding how imagery shapes awareness and action.

  • Emotion & Aesthetics in Environmental Photography – Exploring the role of visual storytelling in engaging audiences.





Confirmed speakers

Online Seminars

Boštjan Videmšek is an award-winning freelance crisis reporter for the Slovenian daily DELO and various European and U.S. publications. His work focuses on climate change, technology, conflicts and migrations.

Margaret Keady is an experienced photo editor, project editor, digital storyteller, and producer. She collaborates with photographers, writers, editors, developers, and designers to create visually compelling and journalistically rigorous stories. She is currently the International Photo Editor at The Wall Street Journal.

Alexandre Brutelle is the director and co-founder of the Environmental Investigative Forum (EIF). He is an investigative journalist, mentor, and trainer specializing in cross-border collaboration and environmental issues. He leads EIF’s development, strategic direction, and external partnerships

Annika McGinnis is a U.S. multimedia journalist and media development specialist based in Uganda with over 10 years of experience. She is the co-founder of InfoNile.org, an award-winning geojournalism platform connecting journalists across the Nile Basin to produce data-driven environmental stories, and recently launched NileWell.org to link journalists with scientists. A National Geographic Society grantee, CIVICUS Goalkeeper, and former Global Health Corps fellow, McGinnis has reported for Reuters, USA TODAY, and McClatchy Newspapers. She also spent five years leading programs at the Media Challenge Initiative in Kampala. Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Data Journalism at Columbia University..



Arles Seminars

Kateryna Radchenko is an artist, curator, and photography researcher. She holds degrees in Philosophy and Journalism from Odesa National University. Since 2015, she has been the founder and director of the International Festival Odesa Photo Days.

Valerio Vincenzo is a photo editor at Geo France and the founder of the association Borderline – Frontiers of Peace, which organizes photo exhibitions and visual education workshops across European schools. He also performs regularly as a speaker for Live Magazine.

Melanie Wenger is a French documentary photographer and founding member of Inland. A National Geographic Explorer, she holds degrees in Literature and Journalism, and her work often focuses on long-term, intimate narratives.

Tommaso Rada is an Italian documentary photographer based in São Paulo, Brazil. His work explores social, economic, and environmental issues, often focusing on the relationship between communities and their environments. 

Matjaž Tančič is a Slovenian photographer and visual artist based between China and Slovenia. His work spans documentary, portrait, and art photography, often dealing with environmental and social themes. He is a member of Inland and actively develops cross-disciplinary visual storytelling projects and educational programs.

  • We welcome photographers and journalists committed to environmental storytelling. You should have a project in progress or a project idea and a desire to explore reporting formats.

  • → Photographers: Please submit up to 10 images from your ongoing project.

    Image Specifications: Resize your JPEG files so that the longest side is 1,400 pixels. The file size must be under 1.5MB.
    File Naming Format: Rename your files using the following format, all in lowercase: surname_firstname_number.jpg. For example, if your name is John Inland, your files should be named: john_inland_01.jpg.
    Eligibility of Older Photographs: Only images taken between 2022 and 2025 will be accepted, to ensure the content is fresh and relevant.

    → Writers: Please submit an abstract of up to 350 words outlining your research (in English). The PDF containing your written essay must be under 10MB. Rename your file as surname_name.pdf.

    All applicants: Provide a short artist statement about your environmental project and a CV

    SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION HERE

    • Deadline for submission: 6 June 2025 at 11:59 pm (CEST).

    • Selected participants will be notified via email by 13 June 2025

    • Workshop Dates:  online sessions on 28 and 29 June 2025, and in-person training on 7 and 9 July 2025 in Arles.


    • 10 participants will be selected to take part in two online seminars and two in-person talks in Arles with leading experts in environmental journalism, data research, and storytelling.

    • One selected participant will receive a €1,500 grant to continue their project.

  • Is there a fee to participate?

    • No — both the application and the event are free.

    Will travel expenses be covered for the winners?

    • No, the prize does not cover travel or accommodation expenses for the Arles Photo Festival.

    Can I enter more than once?

    • No, each participant may submit only one project for the 2025 award.

    What is the timeline for completing the project of the grant winner?

    • The grand prize winner will have 10 months to complete their project. The final submission deadline is 1st May 2026.

  • By submitting your application, you agree to the following:

    1. Originality – All submitted photographs, texts, and materials must be your original work and must not include AI-generated content.

    2. Usage Rights – You grant permission for your submitted work to be used for promotional purposes related to the workshop and public screenings.

    3. Participation – If selected, you agree to fully participate in both online and in-person sessions, following the schedule and guidelines.

    4. Recording Consent – The workshop sessions will be recorded and made publicly available. By participating, you consent to being recorded.

    5. Professional Conduct – Participants must maintain a professional and respectful attitude when engaging with mentors, speakers, and fellow participants.

    6. Technical Issues – Inland Photographers and its partners are not responsible for technical issues that may affect participation.

    7. Age Requirement – Participants must be 18 years or older by 30 April 2025.

    8. Copyright – Photographers retain full copyright of all submitted images. However, Inland House Workshop and its partners may use the images for promotion via print, web, or projection.

    9. - Grant — the recipient of the Grant will be selected and announced during the workshop in Arles.

    10. - Travel and lodging — The organisation of the workshop is not responsible for the travel and lodging of the workshop's participants. The participants will cover their own travel and lodging expenses. 

    11. Disqualification – Any violation of these terms may result in disqualification from the workshop.

 

This Workshop is organised by Inland and supported by Journalism Fund Europe and Hahnemühle.