Political Photo Award

The "Political Photo Award" aims to raise awareness among ninth-grade students about the interactions between images and politics. The six classes involved are working with their teachers on the theme of political photography and exploring the issues involved. From theory to practice, the students are then tasked with taking a "political" photograph, which they will present to a jury during two days of project presentations at Sciences Po Grenoble - UGA.

The project timeline
Feedback days
The 2025–2026 edition
A look back at previous editions

The project timeline

In each of the classes participating in the "Political Photo Award, " a presentation by a teacher from Sciences Po Grenoble - UGA is planned, allowing students to enrich their knowledge of the role of images in politics.

It is also an opportunity to discover a different approach to teaching. This presentation is an introduction to the subject, which complements the work done by their teachers and allows students to fully engage in the project.

Once the students have taken on their role as photographers and their photos have been selected, they work in groups to preparean oral presentation.

Their goal is to explain their approach and discuss the political nature of their proposal. They take positions on various topics, including: the environment, economic and social life, political and social life, memory policies, etc.

To support them, a second intervention is planned: thatof a student from Sciences Po Grenoble - UGA. He or she meets with all the classes involved in the project and advises the students on the development of the title, caption, and oral presentation that accompany the chosen photo.

Feedback days

After several months of work, two presentation days are held to showcase the project. Participating middle schools are invited to Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA to meet and take part in the "Political Photo Award." These exchange days are planned and coordinated by the teaching and administrative team at Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA. The presentation days are an opportunityto inaugurate an exhibition of all the students' photographs at the Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA Documentation Center.

During these days, each group of students presents their photo to the other middle school students participating in the project, as well as to the members of the Political Photo Award jury.

The jury is composed of image specialists: filmmakers, professors, photographers, documentary filmmakers, and students involved in the Déclics Association.

Several prizes are up for grabs! Three of them are awarded by the jury: the Political Photography Prize, the Oral Presentation Prize, and the Special Jury Prize. The latter rewards the artistic proposal as a whole. The winners of the Special Jury Prize win an educational school trip for their entire class, funded by Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA.

Middle school students themselves are invited to place a ballot in the box to award the Student Prize.

Finally, starting with the 2025-2026 edition, a new prize will be awarded: the Sciences Po Community Prize.

The latter is awarded by all students at Sciences Po Grenoble UGA, professors, and staff members. Thanks to the exhibition organized by the Documentation Center, this new award aims to showcase the students' artistic creations for all to see.

The 2025–2026 edition

The "Political Photo Award" will celebrate its fourth edition this year (2025-2026).

The feedback sessions will take place on March 10 and 24, 2026, at Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA.

Students will have the opportunity to visit the school and meet current students. They will be able to discuss their photography, as well as the institution's student life and clubs.

^{Participating middle schools: Collège de la Cité Scolaire du Diois (Die), Collège Aimé Césaire (Grenoble), Collège Le Savouret (Saint Marcellin), Collège La Lauzière (Val d’Arc), Collège Henri Wallon (Saint Martin d’Hères), and Collège Les Saules (Eybens).}

A look back at previous editions

The "Political Photo Award" is an educational project organized by Sciences Po Grenoble as part of the Cordées de la réussite program since 2022.

The third and final edition of the award brought together the following six middle schools: Collège de la Cité Scolaire du Diois, Collège Aimé Césaire (Grenoble), Collège Le Savouret (Saint Marcellin), Collège La Lauzière (Val d'Arc), Collège Henri Wallon (Saint Martin d'Hères), and Collège Gérard Philipe (Fontaine).
The feedback sessions were held on March 18 and 25, 2025. Congratulations to Collège Aimé Césaire and Collège Henri Wallon, winners of the Special Jury Prize.