Together with artist and curator Erik Kessels, participants will explore research methods, planning and curatorial variables within the realm of exhibitions and the curator/artist relations.
Nowadays everyone can be called a curator. We are constantly editing our phones, photos, and applications. And through social media, we curate our own image presence. But what about the curation of a proper contemporary photography exhibition? What are the hurdles to take and the exciting opportunities? Which boundaries can be set?
In contemporary photography, this field is wide open and there are still many new ways to be discovered. Over a period of 8 months, artist and curator Erik Kessels will explore this journey. Mixing theoretical seminars with practical sessions, Kessels will teach, inspire, and practice with the participants how to curate the best possible exhibition with their own or someone else’s work.
To participate, click the Apply Now button and present your candidature for free. If your candidacy is successful, we will guide you to enroll in the program. To be considered for the fully funded scholarship, please apply before 8 May 2025.
In a collective and collaborative environment, the 7 Group Sessions will allow you to present the current status of your work, collect feedback from both the head professor and the class, and move forward.
During the 2 seminars, Erik Kessels will share theoretical and practical guidance on contemporary curatorial practice. These will give participants the necessary tools to research, produce and promote an art event.
The 3 online 30-min individual coaching sessions will give you time to engage in specific discussions aimed at working on your assignment ideas and improving your methods. Sessions are tailor-made according to your specific needs and those of your practice.
To grant you industry insight and offer complementary information, we have invited expert practitioners to host 10 interactive Studio Visits. They will disclose the methodologies behind their work and offer you a better understanding of their role in the industry. Scroll down to discover who they are. These sessions will also be joined by CRITICAE, IDEA, FOLIO and MEDIAE Masterclasses participants.
At the end of the program, you are invited to present your project live on PhMuseum's YouTube channel. Plus, a selection of participants will have their work featured in PhMuseum’s new annual printed publication.
Erik Kessels is a Dutch artist, designer and curator and is since 1996 Creative Director of international communications agency KesselsKramer in Amsterdam and London.
As an artist and photography curator Kessels has published over 50 books of his ‘re-appropriated’ images, is editor of the alternative photography magazine Useful Photography and has written the international bestseller ‘Failed It!’. Kessels made and curated exhibitions such as ‘Loving Your Pictures’, ‘Use me Abuse me’, ‘24HRS of Photos’, ‘Album Beauty’, ‘From Here On’ and ‘Unfinished Father’.
In 2010 Kessels was awarded with the Amsterdam Prize of the Arts, in 2016 nominated for the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize. In 2017 his mid-career retrospective was shown in Turin and Düsseldorf.
Get first-hand experience from an internationally renowned artist, designer and curator like Erik Kessels, enhancing your theoretical and practical approach to curating.
Enroll from anywhere in the world, taking the opportunity to engage in a program you can attend while working or traveling. All the Group Sessions and Studio Visits are recorded so you can follow them if you missed them.
Engage with a selected group of peers and professionals from around the world, who can become a resource also for your future. All participants will further benefit from dissemination opportunities through PhMuseum’s channels and connections.
Enjoy a high-end program at our launching price, one of the most competitive on the market. If you don’t have the resources, you can also apply for 1 fully-funded scholarship.
This masterclass offers all the class members the concrete opportunity to structure an exhibition proposal, following all the steps from curating to budgeting. Plus, a selection of participants will have their work featured in PhMuseum’s new annual printed publication.
“I’m not saying that every curator needs to be some kind of an artist, but for sure, I believe that every artist has to have some kind of a curator in him or herself. Learning how to edit/show/communicate and sell your work is important and can never harm your practice.”
Yes, you are welcome to apply for multiple programs.
Yes, you can use the same project for multiple program applications. Just tailor each application to highlight how the specific Masterclass would benefit your project and explain your interest in its focus. For example, specify why you need to create a photobook dummy or incorporate diverse media into your research.
Every Masterclass session happens online. This comprise Studio Visits with invited artists, curators, graphic designers, who are invited to share their practice and insights in a collective video meeting.
Each Masterclass session is conducted online, including Studio Visits with invited artists, curators, graphic designers, and other professionals. In-person attendance for Studio Visits is not possible. Participants and guests are located in various countries and continents, and the fully online program allows everyone to attend each session regardless of their location.
Please provide both an online portfolio link and your Instagram account in the application, if possible. You can further use a private link from Google Drive or Dropbox. Please avoid temporary WeTransfer links, and remember that we do not accept email applications.
You generally have between 3 and 5 meetings per month. Classes happen on weekdays. Group sessions and seminars generally last 3 to 4 hours. Individual mentoring is 30 minutes per person. Studio visits last 1.5 hours. Most meetings start around 3pm and end before 7pm CET, to allow students attending globally (Americas, Europe and Africa, Asia and Oceania). There is more flexibility for what concerns the individual tutoring.
While a professional level of expertise isn't strictly required, you should have a foundational understanding of photography and a sincere passion for developing their work. We generally filter applications to create heterogeneous and motivated groups of talented participants.
We encourage all masterclasses participants to join us in Bologna for PhMuseum Days, our biennial international photography festival, and Photobook Mania, a biennial gathering dedicated to visual publishing. While attending it is not mandatory, it can be a worthwhile investment of time and money to develop your network and strengthen the bond you will develop online through the program. Over the years, we have also met at other events such as Les Rencontres d'Arles, Fotografia Europea, Paris Photo, and Lodz Fotofestiwal.