Deloitte and 'connections', winners of the first Photo Grant - Lifestyle

Over 680 candidates, a jury composed of critics, photographers, photo editors, gallery owners and museum directors and two sections, with about 60 thousand euros up for grabs and the possibility of organizing an exhibition at Mudec in Milan. In Milan, the winners of Deloitte's first 'Photo Grant' were unveiled today, the richest photographic award in Italy promoted by Deloitte Italia under the patronage of the Deloitte Foundation, the collaboration with 24 Ore Cultura and under the artistic direction of Denis Curti. For the network it is "an absolute novelty" explains Fabio Pompei, CEO Deloitte Italia. The theme chosen for this edition "is that of 'Connections - he adds - which fits perfectly with one of our fundamental values, Connect for Impact". What does it mean to be connected on a human, professional, economic or environmental level? Participants had to answer this question by proposing their own interpretation. The goal, continues the president of the Deloitte Foundation Guido Borsani, was to "concretely support contemporary photographic production, enhancing the creativity of established photographers and emerging talents". With the conviction of the expressive possibilities of the photographic language "which manages to highlight with immediacy and communicative effectiveness current issues of great interest to society, especially for the younger generations". An initiative, comments the artistic director Denis Curti, which wants to "develop and expand the culture of images. With photography that becomes not only memory but also an opportunity for exchange and comparison, a tool to know oneself in relation to others". There are two sections. The first involved gallery owners and museum directors who had the task of selecting 20 professionals from all over the world. The winner was artist Newsha Tavakolian with a project on her vision of contemporary Iran. Through archival images and unpublished shots, Tavakolian wanted to show the dramatic face of oppression by returning a personal interpretation of his country. In addition to a prize of 40 thousand euros, the artist has secured the opportunity to organize an exhibition, scheduled from 13 December 2023 to 28 January 2024 at Mudec in Milan, accompanied by a catalog published by 24 Ore Cultura. In the Open Call section, open to all photographers under 35, the winner is the Brazilian photographer Fernanda Liberti who won a prize of 20 thousand euros with the project 'Dust from home', with which she proposed a profound reflection on the themes of identity and geographical-cultural belonging, together with the possibility of holding an exhibition during the next edition of the Deloitte Photo Grant. "Both - concluded the president of the Deloitte Foundation Guido Borsani - have fully grasped the profound meaning of the theme Connections".