---
title: James Balog Earth Vision Awards
description: >-
  Biennial juried photography prizes from the Denver Art Museum for
  environmental photographers. First prize $40,000; finalist $25,000.
url: 'https://www.artsume.com/programs/b966501d-f5d7-4923-beec-bff832ea9e66'
type: program
status: closed
createdAt: '2026-09-04'
updatedAt: '2026-10-02'
programType: Prize/award
organization: Denver Art Museum
organizationUrl: 'https://www.artsume.com/o/denver-art-museum'
deadline: '2026-10-01'
entryFee: 25 USD
location: 'Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO, United States'
isOnline: false
compensationRange: >-
  First prize $40,000; Finalist $25,000, plus a travel stipend to attend the
  award presentation
disciplines:
  - photography
---

# James Balog Earth Vision Awards

**Hosted by:** Denver Art Museum

**Type:** Prize/award | **Location:** Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO, United States | **Deadline:** October 1, 2026 | **Entry fee:** $25

## About This Program

> "Environmental photography — photographers responding to today's complex environmental issues"

The James Balog Earth Vision Awards (JBEVA) are juried prizes that are intended to support photographers who are responding to today's complex environmental issues through photography. The awards will be given every two years. The Awards are organized and produced by the Denver Art Museum (DAM) in Denver, Colorado, with funds endowed by James Balog and other donors.

Photography is a uniquely powerful medium that bears witness to the relationship between humans and the environment. It shapes our environmental attitudes, perceptions and values and challenges people to create healthier, more sustainable relationships with nature. First prize: $40,000 ($30,000 at the time of the award and $10,000 twelve to eighteen months later).

Finalist: $25,000 ($19,000 at the time of the award and $6,000 twelve to eighteen months later). A three-member jury of expert photo professionals will review all entries. In advance of final decisions, the jury may contact entrants for clarification about their applications. The Awards are intended to recognize the winning artists' direct engagement with the world around us.

Images may be literal and documentary or symbolic and interpretive. They may address impacts that are positive and inspiring, or negative and distressing, or both. The jury will not consider fabricated photographs and photographs that involve cloning, excessive color manipulation or AI-generated content.

## Eligibility & Requirements

- **Geographic Eligibility:** International
- **Disciplines:** photography
- **Age Requirements:** 21+ years old
- **Note:** The Award competition is open to photographers worldwide. The awards are intended to recognize and encourage photographers whose applications demonstrate sustained commitment and significant accomplishment. Applicants must be 21 years of age or older on the day that they submit their proposals. Submission limit: 1 — multiple submissions from the same person will all be disqualified.

You may apply as individuals or as a collective but not both. Work that is AI generated in whole or in part will be disqualified. The JBEVA Award Winner and Finalist may not apply again in future rounds.

### Additional Requirements

- A portfolio of 10-20 photographs that represent your commitment to environmental photography and reflect your accomplishments to date
- a concise (around 500 words) statement describing your first-hand experience with the locations/subjects of the photographs you are submitting and explaining their environmental significance
- a concise (around 500 words) explanation of the work you hope to do with the support of the JBEVA and the impact you hope that work will have over time
- a resume or list of exhibitions, publications, public lectures and/or articles and reviews about your photographic work.

## Compensation & Benefits

First prize $40,000; Finalist $25,000, plus a travel stipend to attend the award presentation

**Includes:** Prize, Travel grant

First prize: $40,000 ($30,000 at the time of the award and $10,000 twelve to eighteen months later). Finalist: $25,000 ($19,000 at the time of the award and $6,000 twelve to eighteen months later). Winners will receive the unpaid balances of their awards after three prints are received and added to the Museum's photography collection. A travel stipend will be provided to defray travel costs for attending the award presentation event.

## What's Provided

- **Travel Support:** Available - A travel stipend will be provided to defray costs of travelling to the award presentation event at the Denver Art Museum.

## Timeline

- **Opens:** September 1, 2026
- **Deadline:** October 1, 2026

## Contact

**Email:** jbeva@denverartmuseum.org

## How to Apply

Apply at: https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/james-balog-earth-vision-awards