BURN Magazine and the 10,000 dollar grant

David Alan Harvey

I started BURN MAGAZINE just before Christmas 2008. So we have been rocking along now for just over a month. BURN is a spinoff of my 2 year old Road Trips blog which was heavily influenced by both Alec Soth and Martin Fuchs. The very nature of my blog, and the evolving BURN, is a clear educational imperative and so in 2008 I created a $5,000 grant to be given to an emerging photographer who needed financial assistance with a project. Sean Gallagher was the first recipient of the Emerging Photographer Fund grant of $5,000. to continue his environmental series on the "desertification" of China.

For 2009 I have announced a $10,000 grant which comes under the non-profit umbrella of the Magnum Cultural Foundation. The guidelines for submissions can be found on BURN. The deadline for this grant is March 15, 2009. Finalists will be juried by a peer group of 5. Two of which will be from Magnum and the other three will be respected members of the gallery and publishing world. I will NOT be one of the jurors. Why? Because I have "coached" too many to be impartial.

In my role as curator of BURN MAGAZINE, I spend a lot of time reviewing portfolios, editing work, and generally trying to answer the myriad of questions of so many young photographers who are often vexed by the complexities of our craft. The work published on BURN comes primarily from the readers of BURN, but I do plan a series of profiles on various Magnum photographers and talent from other agencies and galleries as well. Right now BURN is just me and my laptop and one super tech helper. Give us just a bit of funding and we will BURN the house down (so to speak!).

My overall goal is to create enough sponsorship so that I can eventually give out several stipends during the year to produce original photography for BURN. Many of the published essays were quite literally originated online with the photographer and me collaborating, much as I would do in one of my own workshops which I have been teaching since I was about 23. I have been teaching almost as long as I have been photographing. The pay back, pay forward ,concept is just in my blood. Of course, I am no good to anyone as a teacher if I am not also deeply engaged in my own work, publishing books, taking assignments, creating exhibitions, and generally being totally immersed in our craft, our art, our life...

With the publishing world changing right before our eyes and a recession hanging over most of us, I do see more opportunities than ever before. It will take a quick wit and some nimble thinking and stealth, but I truly believe that the audience will in effect become the publishers. I do see a time for BURN when the online audience will be sufficient enough to create the sponsorship for not only stipends to finish self started projects, but will lead to an annual print publication as well. Dreaming?? Yes, of course, but how do you think I got into this business in the first place??

One of the things we have talked about at Magnum is creating quite literally "channels" for various photographers off of this website.
Certainly there have not been two better leaders than Alec and Martin. I think together we will literally set the tone for the future. Most importantly, it is not about US. It is about YOU. We might be able to guide a bit, but you will be the stars of the show.

So, hang out here on the Magnum Blog. I plan to be more active here as well. Join us also on BURN. One way or another we will try to keep you informed and enlightened and you will do the same for us.

Links:
» BURN Magazine
» Magnum Cultural Foundation
» David Alan Harvey's Magnum Portfolio
» David Alan Harvey's Books (Signed from the Magnum Store)