Joan Wakelin Bursary
The Bursary was established in 2005 in memory of distinguished documentary photographer and Honorary Fellow of The Society, Joan Wakelin. The Bursary funds new projects only. We do not support on-going projects. The Bursary does not support projects requiring travel to or within war zones.
Applications are now closed.
2026 Recipient: Ellie Ramsden
Project: Becoming Luchadora
Becoming Luchadora is a documentary photography project exploring the lives of female wrestlers in Mexico City who are pursuing careers in the birthplace of Lucha Libre. Photographing them both inside and outside the ring, the project examines migration, identity, gender, and belonging through women who are reshaping a tradition once closed to them. Moving beyond the spectacle of professional wrestling, the essay reveals the commitment, resilience, and community behind the masks, showing how cultural traditions evolve through those who choose to make them their own.
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Previous Recipients
Explore the previous recipients of the Joan Wakelin bursary going back to 2005, read more out their projects and on going work.
Partnership:
In Partnership with the Guardian.