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"Agfa Brovira", 2009/2015, Archival Inkjetprint on Hahnemühle Photorag Satin, 80 x 60 cm, framed. © Dörte Eißfeldt

The Viviane Esders Photo Prize concluded its 4th edition on 3 November 2025, honouring three laureates: Dörte Eissfeldt (Germany), Bodhan Holomicēk (Czechoslovakia), and Oleksandr Suprun (Ukraine).

Established in 2022, the Viviane Esders Endowment Fund has decided to discontinue its Photo Prize has decided to discontinue its Photo Prize in order to redefine its mission. Its activities will now focus on Viviane Esders’ photography collection, which has never been shown to the public.

In 2026, this new mission will unfold along several key lines:

  • The comprehensive inventory of the 2,500 photographic prints that comprise the collection;
  • The publication of thematic volumes, with a view to continuing the work initiated by the release of the first three volumes;
  • The dissemination of the collection’s photographs through loans and exhibitions, developed in partnership with cultural institutions and venues in France and abroad;
  • Collaboration with international curators for exceptional presentations.

At the same time, and with the aim of ensuring the Endowment Fund’s lasting presence within the contemporary art scene, the members of the Viviane Esders Fund will engage in a reflection on the terms of a potential donation to an institution capable of offering photography enthusiasts a permanent venue and continuous access to this unique collection—one that reflects a profound passion for photography and more than forty years of commitment to creators.

Preserved and made accessible to all, this collection will provide an opportunity for a privileged dialogue with a major art form, whose bicentenary is being celebrated this year.

Viviane Esders
23 January 2026

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Prix Viviane Esders 2025 Edition

Dörte Eißfeldt, laureate of the fourth edition of the Viviane Esders Prize!

The Prix Viviane Esders is awarded to a professional, independent, European photographer over the age of 60 who is still active, and demonstrates a personal style and artistic approach.

Driven by the idea of discovering or rediscovering a lifetime of work, the prize stands out for the generous endowment of €60,000 in total and the recognition it brings to remarkable artistic careers who really need financial support to pursue their work.

The Jury, accompanied by Viviane Esders and made up of six personalities from the world of art and culture honor one laureate with a 50 000€ grant including €10,000 towards the production of a book and two finalists with a 5,000€ grant each.

In 2025, our aim is to attract more applications from women photographers and to broaden the representation of other European countries. An achievement fulfilled!