Since 2001, the Foundation has awarded a stipend to a Swedish photographer, enabling him or her to work on a project in an international environment by spending September at Axel Munthe's Villa San Michele on the Italian island of Capri.

Axel Munthe (1857 -1949) was one of the most prominent Swedes of his time. As a physician, he made an international career, providing his services both to the very wealthy and to the victims of epidemics and natural disasters. Eventually he settled on the island of Capri, and purchased the villa through which he gave expression to his love of beauty, and his interest in art, architecture and nature. Late in life, he wrote The Story of San Michele, which has come to be one of the most widely read, sold, and translated books ever written by a Swede. Munthe bequeathed his property to the Swedish state, which operates the facilities as a museum and cultural center through the San Michele Foundation. Its aim is to reinforce the cultural ties between Italy and Sweden in many ways, including through grants to Swedish artists, authors, photographers, etc. to stay and work for some time at San Michele. More information may be found at www.villasanmichele.eu.

The stipend amounts to SEK 20,000 plus the rental cost of the accommodation.

Application for the San Michele Stipend

The San Michele stipend may only be applied for by photographers working and living in Sweden and by Swedish citizens residing abroad.

The application deadline for the San Michele stipend is March 1, 2010, by which date the applications shall have reached the office of the Foundation.

Application forms and instructions for applicants for the San Michele stipend may be ordered from the Hasselblad Foundation or downloaded here.

Application form (only in Swedish)

Instructions for applicants (only in Swedish)

Daniel Hoflund - 2009 San Michele Stipend Recipient

Daniel Hoflund from Stockholm has been awarded the 2009 stipend to San Michele. His ongoing project documents Villa Lysis, the Capri home of Baron Jacques d'Adelswärd-Fersen. He will spend a month at San Michele (on Capri), and continue to photograph the Villa and its ambiance, in order to complete project. This photographic project is at the interface with both architecture and poetry, and his ambition is to tell the story of Baron d'Adelswärd-Fersen and his Capri residence, Villa Lysis as a symbol of dreaming and creativity as well as the loss of beauty and youth.

Previous Recipients of the San Michele Stipend:

2008 Mikael Olsson, Göteborg

2007 Helena Blomqvist, Stockholm

2006 Mats Eriksson, Enskede

2005 Catharina Gotby, Stockholm

2004 Dana Sederowsky, Göteborg

2003 Sofia Änghede, Kristianstad

2002 Leena Jokela, Hägersten

2001 Lennart Alves, Malmö