FotoEvidence Association, in partnership with the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP), is developing a three-year program called FotoEvidence Ukraine aimed at supporting the community of Ukrainian photographers, as well as helping to preserve and revive Ukrainian history and culture through the publication of photobooks documenting the Russian invasion of Ukraine beginning since 2014.
FotoEvidence Ukraine is supported by Open Society Foundations and Renaissance Foundation.
Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, 1,582 cultural objects have been destroyed or damaged, including 598 libraries. It is no secret that Putin's goal is not only territorial, but also cultural — to liquidate Ukraine as an independent nation and to subordinate its culture to Russian domination.
Why books?
The book is a familiar and accepted subject at all levels of society around the world. The stories told in the books go beyond the front pages of news publications and talk about the roots of conflict and human rights abuses. The book remains as evidence on home and library shelves, preserving the stories that shaped the world. Books are often perceived as a threat and are burned. FotoEvidence was created to preserve memories and inspire social change through the projects we publish and promote.
“The Russian-Ukrainian war is more than a war of two armies - it is a war between societies. Russia's intention is not only to defeat the Ukrainian military, but also to turn Ukraine into a gray zone, destroying it as a nation. Among the key objects damaged by the war and under the purview of Russian terrorists are cultural institutions, especially those where ideas are stored or exchanged, namely libraries.
(Julia Gosart, professor at the School of Information of San José State University).
Mission
Photojournalists from Ukraine and around the world have documented the visual narrative of this turbulent page in the history of Ukraine. Their dedication sheds light on the complex realities of life during the ongoing Russian invasion, terror against civilians, and cultural eradication efforts. FotoEvidence Ukraine will collect and publish visual stories documenting this period with the aim of filling libraries and schools with books that preserve the history of this time for future generations.
By collecting and distributing a large number of documentary materials, FotoEvidence Ukraine aims to maintain global awareness of the Russian invasion, as well as support for Ukrainian culture, by offering valuable resources for media, public discourse and education for future generations.
By offering a platform for Ukrainian photographers to share their work documenting the Russian invasion with an international audience, the project will foster cultural entrepreneurship, foster the growth of Ukraine's creative industries, and provide important historical documentation.
Book
FotoEvidence is the publisher of the famous historical book “Ukraine: A War Crime”. This is a collection of more than 360 photographs and 35 witness testimonies from more than ninety photojournalists from 29 countries who have come together to present their firsthand accounts of the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the point of view of those tasked with documenting it. The book was named “Photobook of the Year” by the International Photography Awards in New York, was shortlisted for the Arles Historical Book Award 2023 and received a silver medal in the Human Rights and Media category of the Anthem Awards.
Events
In order to convey the reality of war to the public, FotoEvidence Ukraine will organize mobile exhibitions based on books published by us. The book “Ukraine: War Crime” has already been presented at 19 different venues in Europe, including Ukraine and the United States. Supported by the Open Society Foundations, the exhibition based on this book traveled through the Western Balkans, starting with Tirana, then Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Serbia.
We plan to establish cooperation with the National Library of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education of Ukraine to distribute books in schools, libraries and cultural institutions.
Team
Working with the Ukrainian team, FotoEvidence will support Ukrainian visual storytellers, having over a decade of experience in developing and publishing powerful photo books dedicated to human rights. The FotoEvidence Ukraine team includes 16 well-known Ukrainian and international photojournalists and photo editors who have experience in creating storytelling and photobooks. With most of them, FotoEvidence worked in previous editions about the war in Ukraine. Their task will be to tell stories that deserve to be preserved in books and guide authors in the creative process.
Eventually, each new author will be part of a team — a growing community of photojournalists working to document current history for the benefit of future generations.
The FotoEvidence Ukraine team will be headed by Director Svetlana Bachevanova. In Ukraine, the project leader is Olga Kovalyova/UAPP, and the editor-in-chief is Irinka Gromotska.
The editorial board includes: Paul Bronstein (USA), Maksym Dondyuk (Ukraine), Brendan Hoffman (USA), Alexander Gladylov (Ukraine), Natalie Keisar (USA), Sergey Korovaynyi (Ukraine), Olga Kovalyova (Ukraine), Sarah Lin (USA), Yevheviy Maloletka (Ukraine), Sasha Maslov (Ukraine), Mykhailo Palinchak (Ukraine), Oksana Parafeniuk (Ukraine), Danylo Pavlov (Ukraine), Ekaterina Radchenko (Ukraine).
Applications for participation in the 2024 photo project
To celebrate FotoEvidence's partnership with the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers, we are launching work on our first edition: PhotoChronicles of War. The photobook was developed by UAPP members in response to the challenges of the Russian invasion of Ukraine starting in 2014. The project systematically documents and chronicles key events related to the Russian invasion, as well as events that marked a profound impact on society. Its goal is to preserve the history of Ukrainian resistance for future generations.
Starting August 5, 2024, FotoEvidence Ukraine will accept book proposals from Ukrainian photographers who have been working to document the Russian invasion since 2014.
Proposals should be in a low-resolution PDF format containing a presentation of the work in English and Ukrainian, an image, and a brief explanation of your vision of the book. E-mail: fotoevidence.ukraine@gmail.com
Deadline: November 30, 2024
Proposals will be considered in December 2024 and selected authors will be invited to discuss possible publication.
Process
Creating a book is an educational process and one of FotoEvidence's main areas of activity is nurturing photographers who strive to create long, humanistic stories.
When creating a book, FotoEvidence gives the photographer the opportunity to work with a creative team that includes the publisher, photo editor, and book designer. The goal of this creative collaboration is both to support the photographer in creating a book that would embody his vision and to create a powerful book with emotional impact.
Made in Ukraine
Preprint preparation and printing phase of FotoEvidence Ukraine books will take place in Ukraine.
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