Amsterdam, Netherlands—The World Press Photo Foundation and the Tim Hetherington Trust are honoring Hetherington’s legacy through an ongoing, cooperative partnership that will launch a fellowship starting in 2016.
Tim Hetherington was committed to finding new ways to tell compelling stories about politics, conflict and the human experience. And he wished to relay these stories to a wide audience. Hetherington was a British photojournalist who produced books, films and other work. He was killed on April 20, 2011 by Libyan forces while covering the Libyan Civil War.
This renewed cooperation between the two organizations, instead of providing funds for an individual project, will offer new ways of supporting photographers to expand Hetherington’s legacy in new and creative directions. They will support future beneficiaries by focusing on the opportunities for them to be involved in the media economy.
“It’s important we keep the structure flexible which will allow the fellowship to evolve. It wouldn’t be right for something in Tim’s name to be rigid and not adaptable,” sad Stephen Mayes, director of the Tim Hetherington Trust. “The Trust and family are confident that the ongoing connection with the World Press Photo Foundation is important and we are pleased to have found a long-lasting form that fits Tim’s way of thinking.”
The fellowship will assist visual storytellers by providing access to training or mentorship so they can further their projects and mission. Fellows will become part of a network focused on innovative processes and permanent education. The fellows from each year will become part of the network and will play a role in selecting new fellows. The aim is to grow and strengthen a network of multiple skills that provides ongoing support.
The selected fellow will receive an award of approximately $5,700, to be provided equally by the Tim Hetherington Trust and the World Press Photo Foundation and its partners. The World Press Photo Foundation is also approaching organizations to join this initiative. It hopes new partners will add financial benefits or other value in order to expand the fellowship circle.
Inaugural Tim Hetherington Trust Awardee
The inaugural Tim Hetherington Trust / World Press Photo Foundation fellowship has been awarded to Nana Kofi Acquah. With the fellowship he will develop his project about gender/women in Africa. Nana Kofi Acquah is a Ghanaian photographer, blogger as well as poet. He works across Africa with a commitment to help reposition the continent through new visual imagery and also discourse. In addition, he is a member of the Instagram group @EverydayAfrica. Nana became a full time photographer in 2007, after years in advertising and journalism.
“We are delighted to be deepening our collaboration with the Tim Hetherington Trust. We also are very happy that we have put together a creative fellowship program. Together we are committed to rethinking education and ensuring talent is connected to new networks of support. Given his long-term commitment to new perspectives in photography, Nana Kofi Acquah deserves to be the first fellow,” added Lars Boering, managing director of the World Press Photo Foundation. timhetheringtontrust.org
