The Edward Ruiz Mentorship is a mentoring programme created to provide start-up assistance to promising, young photographers and to help them launch their careers.

The programme is named after well-known New York photojournalist Edward Ruiz, who lived and worked in South Africa for many years. In his memory, recipients are provided with the funding and infrastructure they need to develop new photographic work for a year. Research and execution of the work must take place within the boundaries of South Africa. This is then followed by an exhibition of the work produced in the Photo Workshop Gallery. In consultation with the Market Photo Workshop, the recipient of assistance also identifies a mentor to assist him or her, and subsequently to curate the exhibition. Mentors are usually practicing, professional photographers. Previous recipients of the Edward Ruiz Mentorship are Vathiswa Ruselo (2005/6), Sabelo Mlangeni (2006/7), Mimi Ng’ok (2007/8), Musa Nxumalo (2008/9), Samantha Simons (2009/10), Thandile Zwelibanzi (2010/11) and Jabunali Dhlamini (2011/12).

www.marketphotoworkshop.co.za/content/page/the-edward-ruiz-mentorship