Newsha Tavakolian : Photographer wins

Newsha Tavakolian Photography

29 September at 19:01 · 

Two weeks ago I posted a statement to my Facebook page, saying I returned the 2014 Carmignac Award, a 50.000 euro prize, three exhibitions and a book. I did so after months of debate with the award's patron over the control of my work.

The many, many messages of friends, photographers and others from around the world have been amazing, I want to thank everybody for supporting artistic freedom, which should not just be a slogan but respected.

This weekend the Carmignac Foundation had a huge turn around, promising that from now on there will be no more interference in my project and that two key jury members will be in charge of curating my work, exhibitions and book.
I have decided to accept these new conditions, as for me this was about one thing only, to be able as a photographer to choose the title, edits and texts of my work.

This would never have happened without the deep commitment shown by the jury members who have stood up for the main principle that makes us all love photography, journalism and art: freedom of expression.

Press release

25 September 2014
"Carmignac Foundation"

ARTISTIC FREEDOM HAS A PRIZE

In 2009 the Carmignac Foundation established the Carmignac Gestion Photojournalism Award, with the aim of supporting and promoting an investigative photo essay in areas not in the spotlight, yet at the heart of complex geostrategic issues with global repercussions, where human rights and freedom of speech are often violated. Regions such as Gaza, Pashtunistan, Zimbabwe and Chechnya were the locations selected for the first awards.

Defending freedom of expression and thought is its raison d'être.
Debate has always been an intrinsic part of the Award. However, the fifth edition of the Award, devoted to Iran, has provoked a different kind of debate, and we deeply regret the antagonism that has developed between the winner, Newsha Tavakolian, and the Carmignac Foundation. While we do not accept the allegations of censorship, which is incompatible with the founding principles of the Award, we believe that the ensuing debate has nonetheless raised valid questions about the respective roles of the Jury and of the patron.

For this reason, the Foundation invited the current edition's Jury to a meeting with Edouard Carmignac on Monday 22 September in order to agree measures necessary for a positive resolution of the situation with the fifth Award winner, Newsha Tavakolian, and those relating to the rules governing the Award.
Among the changes decided with the agreement of the Jury, the Carmignac Foundation has undertaken to:

1. Change the rules of the Award so that photographers are guaranteed artistic freedom, and to ensure that the project that is awarded the grant is consistent with the final project. To this end we propose that as of today, the President of the Jury is the Chief Curator for the year.

2. Appoint Anahita Ghabaian, President of the fifth edition Jury, and Sam Stourdzé, member of the Jury, as Curators of Newsha Tavakolian's exhibition and book.

The second measure is of course subject to the agreement of the winner and to her undertaking to ensure her own safety. We sincerely hope that it will allow the public to grasp the realities of life in Iran in all its complexity.

We wish to thank everybody who took part in these discussions: Christian Caujolle, Anahita Ghabaian, Celina Lunsford, Davide Monteleone, Jean-Pierre Perrin, Reza, Marc Sealy, Jérôme Sessini and Sam Stourdzé.

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