TORONTO.- Today the Aimia | AGO Photography Prize, Canada's leading contemporary photography award, announced the highly anticipated long list of 14 finalists from around the world, submitted by a group of international nominators. Formerly known as The Grange Prize, the $50,000 purse is awarded by public vote and honours living artists whose work in photography and video over the past five years has displayed extraordinary potential. The nominators are leading Canadian and international experts in photography (curators, academics and artists) who have each nominated two artists for the Prize — one from their home countries or regions of expertise and one internationally.

The Aimia | AGO Photography Prize 2013 long list includes:
•Edgardo Aragón (Mexico)
•Jessica Eaton (Canada)
•Em'Kal Eyongakpa (Cameroon)
•LaToya Ruby Frazier (USA)
•Regina José Galindo (Guatemala)
•Ron Jude (USA)
•Tomoko Kikuchi (Japan)
•Emanuel Licha (Canada)
•Abraham Oghobase (Nigeria)
•Chino Otsuka (Japan)
•Erin Shirreff (Canada)
•Dan Siney (Canada)
•Efrat Shvily (Israel)
•Lucie Stahl (Germany)

"The 14 nominated artists have diverse practices, but they have made an extraordinary impact in their respective communities," says Matthew Teitelbaum, Director and CEO of the AGO. "As we enter an exciting new phase for the Aimia | AGO Photography Prize we hold onto our foundation by supporting artists with residency and exhibition programs at home and abroad. I extend sincere congratulations to all nominees; I know that they will all make a valuable contribution to the continuing innovation and growth of photography across the world."

"On behalf of Aimia, I would like to congratulate all of the artists who were nominated for the prize this year. The Aimia | AGO Photography Prize not only recognizes their immense talent, but also provides those ultimately short-listed with an invaluable opportunity to learn and develop new projects while exploring their talents," says Vince Timpano, President and CEO of Aimia in Canada. "We're proud to partner with the AGO for the sixth year to continue to foster artistic development at home and around the world."

The prestigious group of nominators for the 2013 Aimia | AGO Photography Prize include:

•Yael Bartana, internationally acclaimed artist

•Jennifer Blessing, Senior Curator, Photography, Guggenheim Museum, New York

•Karen Irvine, Curator and Associate Director, Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College, Chicago

•Michiko Kasahara, Chief Curator, Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography

•Mark Lanctôt, Curator, Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal

•Helga Pakasaar, Curator, Presentation House Gallery, Vancouver

•José Roca, Adjunct Curator, Latin American Art, Tate

•Bisi Silva, Director, Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos, Nigeria

From the list of 14 artists, a jury of three experts headed by Lead Juror Elizabeth Smith, AGO Executive Director of Curatorial Affairs, will select a short list of four artists, including at least one Canadian artist. These artists will receive a fully funded six-week residency in Canada and their work will be exhibited at the AGO beginning September 11, 2013. The winner will be selected by public vote inside the exhibition and online at aimiaagophotographyprize.com (with online voting beginning August 27, 2013). The winner, who will be announced on November 7, 2013, receives $50,000.