The deadline for the 2024 Scholarship has passed. Check back after December 1, 2024 for details and the application form for the 2025 Scholarship.
The Kurt Markus Family and Santa Fe Workshops are pleased to continue Kurt’s legacy as a teacher and role model for young photographers by awarding an annual scholarship in his name.
The Kurt Markus Photography Scholarship recognizes artistic promise coupled with a desire to live a photographic life by awarding a full scholarship to a one-week workshop in Santa Fe each summer to a young imagemaker.
Kurt Markus was a visual poet of the American West, creating authentic portraits, classic landscapes, and beautifully seductive fashion images. His photographs touched all strata of humanity and left a lasting imprint that will endure for many generations.
Equally important to Kurt was his role as a mentor. Starting in 2008, he made time each year to teach at Santa Fe Workshops. Instructing solo, co-teaching with Norman Mauskopf, or joining Jimmy Chin and Robert Maxwell for a Santa Fe Workshops/Outside Magazine Master Class, Kurt was dedicated to passing on his knowledge and passion for photography to the new generation of photographers.
The Kurt Markus Photography Scholarship offers the financial support for a young photographer to attend the workshop of their choice to include travel expenses to Santa Fe and return, workshop tuition and fees, car rental, meals, accommodations, and $500 for photographic supplies and miscellaneous expenses. In addition to the workshop in Santa Fe, the recipient will forever be linked to the spirit and accomplishments of Kurt as they traverse their own path forward in photography.
Photographers under 30 years old are encouraged to apply. Applications for this scholarship will be available on December 1 and due by January 15. There is no fee to apply for this scholarship. Jurors to award this annual scholarship are Laurie Kratochvil, Andy Anderson, and Reid Callanan.
We are pleased to announce the winner of the 2024 Kurt Markus Scholarship is Annie Barker. Here is a link to this year’s scholarship recipient website, and read Annie’s biography below:
Annie Barker (b. 1999) is a photojournalist and currently a staff photographer at The Everett Herald. Previously she was a photo intern at Detroit Free Press, Grand Rapids Press, and Desert News in Salt Lake City. Annie graduated from Michigan State University with two BAs in journalism and creative advertising. In 2023 Annie was chosen to attend the Eddie Adams Workshop, Missouri Photo Workshop, and Catchlight Visual Storytelling Summit. She says, “Photojournalism is a way to discover and visualize what is important to ourselves and the people we have the privilege to cover. I am thankful to be a part of this industry.”
Donations to this fund to honor Kurt and his legacy as a teacher and a mentor are now being accepted. Tax-deductible donations should be made to CENTER, a 501(c3) not-for-profit organization based in Santa Fe. CENTER, founded in 1994, honors, supports, and provides opportunities to gifted and committed photographers.
Please mail donation checks with a notation “For Kurt Markus Scholarship Fund” to:
CENTER
PO Box 8372
Santa Fe, NM 87504
Contact Reid Callanan if you have questions about donating to this scholarship fund at rcallanan@santafeworkshops.com.
Three images from Monument Valley by Kurt Markus. Donations of $7500 or higher will receive one of these limited-edition prints (donor’s choice).
