PhMuseum Education Program 2025/26

Develop your photography projects and curatorial skills working with Adam Broomberg, Erik Kessels, Laura El-Tantawy, Elisa Medde, Nicolas Polli (Ciao Press) and Salvatore Vitale.

Overview

PhMuseum's educational program is dedicated to providing a comprehensive learning experience for all participants, emphasizing quality teaching while alternating practice with theory. Each course is tailored to meet the needs of contemporary photographers, artists, curators, and storytellers looking to cater to specific areas of the visual language, from research and critical thinking to photobook making and exhibition design.

Each Masterclass offers Group Sessions and Seminars that provide theoretical and practical guidance on contemporary photography, allowing you to enjoy ideas and feedback both from the professors and from other coursemates. The One-On-One Mentoring sessions instead are conceived to offer you a moment of privacy with the head professor who will answer the specific needs of your practice. The Online Studio Visits allow participants from across the masterclasses to discover the practice of external guests. Another opportunity to connect with peers from other classes and ask questions to experts in the field. Previous guests included Lars Willumeit, Mathieu Asselin, Bindi Vora, Jon Uriarte, Silvia Rosi, Sayuri Ichida, Anne van der Zwaag, Sybren Kuiper, Amak Mahmoodian, Claudia Kussel, Barbara Hofmann-Johnson, Melissa Catanese, Paolo Cirio, Lea Vene, Federico Clavarino, Anne Marie Beckmann, Francesco Zanot, and Linda van Deursen.

Practical Info

Applicants need to send a motivational paragraph that addresses why they need it and how they can benefit from attending the program.

The 5 masterclasses share a single intake period running through 8 May to access the scholarships, with classes beginning in October 2025. Guided by acclaimed professionals in a supportive online environment, these programs offer an unparalleled learning experience. In the coming weeks, you can explore and apply for one or more of the following programs:

CRITICAE – Online Masterclass On Documentary Photography

This masterclass builds upon years of experience, offering a unique program that explores the interplay between personal and critical methodologies. Led by internationally renowned professionals Laura El-Tantawy, documentary photographer, and Elisa Medde, editor and curator, participants will delve into different modes of storytelling approaches, questioning the documentary nature of photography and its various media. Through a combination of collective and individual sessions, participants will define their relationship with the medium and develop critical documentary strategies. Plus, select participants will have the opportunity to exhibit their work at PhMuseum Lab in Bologna, Italy, in late 2026. Learn more and apply.

CURAE – Online Masterclass On Curatorial Practice

In contemporary photography, curatorial practices are constantly evolving, offering new avenues for exploration. Over a period of 8 months, artist and curator Erik Kessels will guide participants in curating the best possible exhibition with their own or someone else’s work. Blending theoretical seminars with practical workshops, Kessels will teach, inspire, and cooperate with the class to explore the opportunities and hurdles of curating visual projects, offering an in-depth perspective spanning from the creation of a concept to the challenges of exhibition production.

FOLIO – Online Masterclass On Photobook Making

Now in its 6th edition, Folio 2025/26 is led by Nicolas Polli, photographer, graphic designer and founder of the independent publishing house Ciao Press. A selected group of photographers will receive guidance through the advanced stages of their projects, aiming to finalize a body of work and have it ready for publication. The program will be conducted online, with a final gathering at the PhMuseum Days International Photography Festival in Bologna, Italy, where PhMuseum will curate an exhibition showcasing all produced dummies.

IDEA – Online Masterclass On Conceptual Thinking In Photography

This new masterclass, led by artist, activist and educator Adam Broomberg, will help practicing or aspiring photographic artists to transform the seed of an idea into its fullest realisation. Drawing on his extensive experience across various photographic media, from analogue large-format photography to Artificial Intelligence, Broomberg will guide participants in interrogating their concepts using diverse visual and theoretical strategies. Throughout the 8-month program, participants will have the opportunity to build a solid project, ensuring the final outcome engages, challenges, or expands the boundaries of the photographic medium.

MEDIAE – Online Masterclass on Transmedia Storytelling

Led by artist Salvatore Vitale, this masterclass is designed for practitioners seeking to explore the expressive potential of photography through interaction with diverse media. Participants will develop a narrative project while experimenting with various research, production and dissemination strategies. They will be challenged to select a theme, conduct thorough research, and develop their work from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The ultimate goal is to progress a transmedia project that incorporates photography with other media, such as sound, archive images, social platforms, video, and text, to create a more immersive and engaging experience for their audience.

About PhMuseum

PhMuseum is a curated platform dedicated to the visual language and its culture. Since 2012 we have been focused on finding diverse ways to display photography, educate, and connect with a growing community. Our mission is to discover, support and promote photographers, working as an innovative talent incubator.

Over more than a decade, we have supported more than 100 photographers with €240,000 in cash prizes and another 300 with exhibition, residency and screening opportunities at festivals such as PhEST, Getxophoto, Organ Vida, Cortona OTM, Lagos Photo, Verzasca Foto, JIPFest and our own PhMuseum Days.