Annual Undergraduate and Graduate Student Awards
for Outstanding Work
Every year SVA offers TWO awards celebrating the original work of undergraduate and graduate students that contributes to Visual Anthropology. The Society for Visual Anthropology (SVA) will honor both an undergraduate and graduate student for outstanding work in visual anthropology conducted throughout the academic year.
This work can range from a conventional academic paper to a multimodal project (photo essay, web page, etc.), an installation, or an ethnographic film. We will recognize the work that best incorporates anthropological principles and/or methods in novel and creative ways, which makes an intriguing academic argument on current issues, and/or establishes new ways for expressing or thinking about multimodal positions about culture, society, and our collaborators.
Submitted work will be evaluated by a jury of visual anthropologists. Winning students and their supporting faculty will be recognized by the SVA with a certificate during the annual SVA meeting in November. Winning students will receive $250 and a one-year membership in SVA.
Winning work will be showcased on the SVA website and student winners will get a one-on-one developmental editing meeting with the editorial office of Visual Anthropology Review, with advice from the editors on how to transform their work into a submission for one of the journal’s sections.
The deadline for submissions is October 31, 2025 and applicants will be informed of acceptance by early March 2026.
To apply, email your proposal (as a single PDF) to societyforvisualanthroprez@gmail.com
(please write “2025 SVA Student award submission - your full name” in the subject line)
-
The SVA Student Awards for Outstanding Work are open to all students affiliated with the fields of anthropology or the practice of anthropology and/or ethnography in some manner, regardless of nationality.
Applicants should be students in good standing in a university program although need not be in an anthropology degree program.
Submitted work should have been created as part of an undergrad/graduate/academic program within the previous or current academic year (including directed or independent studies, summer fieldwork, etc.). For graduate students, the submission may be a chapter of a dissertation or thesis.
Submitted work should not have been published previously in an academic journal (print or virtual) but may appear on a website or local university site.
Submitted work should be accompanied by a letter of support from a faculty person who is familiar with the work (advisor, instructor, committee member).
Students are limited to one submission a year
-
A cover letter detailing a summary or synopsis of the work, the date, your contact information, specific course, and university in which the work was created, why the submission is outstanding and worthy of recognition, and an evaluation of how the submission affects visual anthropology, its principles, and the issues it addresses.
A letter of support from a faculty person who is familiar with the work (advisor, instructor, committee members) and can attest to the outstanding nature of the piece.
If submitting a paper, it should be double-spaced in 11pt font (minimum) with 1” margins and numbered pages. The cover page should include all identifying information, while the body of the work should not contain any identifying information. PDFs only.
For multimodal submissions, a copy of the work in digital format. Large files may be shared via Google Drive or Dropbox or with direct links to media (Vimeo, YouTube, etc.). Installations may be submitted through still photography or video. Include links (along with passwords) in a PDF.
All materials must be submitted as a single PDF file or document in the format outlined above. All materials must be received by the above-mentioned deadline. Please write “SVA Student Award submission” in the subject line of your submission email. If you have questions or concerns about how best to share your work, please contact us at societyforvisualanthroprez@gmail.com.
-
Must the student be a member of the AAA?
No, students must simply demonstrate their affiliation with a graduate program.
Must the faculty referee be a member of the AAA?
No, the faculty referee must only show her/his relationship with the student and the work itself.
Can the work be done outside of a course requirement?
Yes, if the work is an independent study or based upon preliminary fieldwork (to be explained in the cover letter).
Can the paper be a literature review?
No, the paper should be based on original research conducted by the student.
Can the author graduate before the submission deadline and still be considered?
Yes, as long as the paper is submitted prior to graduation.
Can the paper be under review but not accepted?
Yes.
Can the paper/project be co-authored?
The paper can be co-authored/co-produced, if the student is the primary author/creator and can attest to at least 50% of the data collection and analysis and at least 75% of the writing/editing/creating.
Can the author be from a program that is interdisciplinary?
Yes, if the student’s primary disciplinary orientation is anthropology. Note that papers are judged using anthropological research and writing standards and by anthropologists.