INTERNATIONAL HANDICRAFTS PHOTO AWARDS
WORK PACKAGE NUMBER 2 OF THE PROJECT
The International Handicrafts Photo Awards is an international photography competition organized to document, promote, and preserve the rich diversity of handicrafts through the universal language of photography.
Handicrafts play an essential role in preserving cultural heritage, traditional craftsmanship, vocational skills, sustainable production, local economies, and community identity. Photography is the most powerful medium for recording not only handcrafted works but also the knowledge, patience, and stories behind them. Building on ESDER's extensive experience in organizing successful national and international photography competitions, this project aims to create one of the world's most comprehensive photographic archives dedicated to handicrafts, preserving this cultural heritage for future generations.
The top three photographs will receive cash prizes. In addition, 106 Exhibition Awards will be presented. These selected photographs will be showcased in an international digital exhibition and published in a professionally printed photo catalogue. The catalogue will be distributed to public institutions, universities, museums, cultural organizations, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders, providing international visibility for both the photographers and the handicrafts they document. Participants will also gain international recognition by becoming part of a permanent cultural archive.
The international exhibition and awards ceremony will be held during the Gala Event in Ankara, Türkiye, in October 2026, bringing together photographers, artists, academics, and cultural institutions to celebrate the world's rich handicraft heritage.
