The Centre for British Photography has announced the recipients of the 2025 Realisation Grants, awarded to four exceptional photographers and artists working with photography. These grants, totaling £2,500 per recipient, aim to support the completion of ongoing projects within a year, and also provide mentorship from experts in the field. The selection process was highly competitive, with 412 submissions received, showcasing the high caliber of work in the photography community. The winners for 2025 include Ben Millar Cole, Magda Kuca, Aindreas Scholz, and Sujata Setia, each of whom brings a unique perspective to their respective projects.
Magda Kuca is celebrated for her innovative exploration of memory and identity, while Sujata Setia, a renowned portrait photographer, has been recognized for her deeply emotive and intimate depictions of women's lives, often focusing on cultural heritage and familial bonds. Both Kuca and Setia's works offer profound insights into the female experience, with Setia's evocative portraits particularly highlighting the resilience and strength of women in contemporary society. Their inclusion in the 2025 cohort emphasizes the importance of amplifying female voices and perspectives in photography, showcasing their contributions to expanding the visual language of contemporary art.
MAGDA KUCA
Magda Kuca's project, Blood of My Blood, delves into the intersection of photography, medicine, and memory. Drawing on Polish folklore, Kuca's work explores the personal and collective histories of health and healing through archival photography, portraiture, and historical photographic processes like wet collodion and platinum printing. This interdisciplinary project also involves collaborations with historians and experts from the Old Operating Theatre Museum in London. Kuca aims to produce new works that reflect the museum's collection, culminating in an exhibition and workshop that uses alternative photographic techniques to examine historical narratives surrounding health and identity.
SUJATA SETIA
Sujata Setia, a British artist of Indian descent, is working on A Thousand Cuts, a project that examines domestic abuse, cultural narratives, and resilience within the South Asian community in the UK. Setia's interdisciplinary approach combines photography with intimate storytelling to shed light on the hidden realities of abuse, trauma, and gender politics. With the support of the grant, Setia will create additional works to complete a series of 32 pieces, which will culminate in a photo book. This book aims to amplify the voices of South Asian survivors and initiate a broader conversation about oppression and social justice.
MOVING FORWARD
The 2025 Realisation Grants highlight the Centre for British Photography's commitment to fostering diverse voices and innovative practices in the photography community. Each recipient's project demonstrates a deep engagement with critical issues-whether it be the role of AI in art, the history of medical practices, environmental vulnerability, or the intersection of cultural narratives and domestic abuse-further enriching the landscape of contemporary photography in the UK.
Women photographers, in particular, continue to bring fresh perspectives and powerful voices to these important conversations. Their work often challenges established norms and sheds light on underrepresented narratives, from personal histories and identity to societal issues affecting women today. The inclusion of these voices in the 2025 cohort reflects a broader commitment to ensuring that women's perspectives remain central in the evolving landscape of contemporary photography.
Now is the time to actively champion and support women photographers-by engaging with their work, sharing their stories, and making sure their powerful voices are heard across all platforms.
