CURAE 2026/27
Online Masterclass On Artistic Development
Led by
Erik
Kessels
- Where Online
- When October 2026 to May 2027
- Language English
- Seats 13 + 1 Scholarship
- Dedication 8 Months
- Scholarship Fully-funded – Apply before 30 April i
- Early Bird Fee €1,850 – Apply before 30 April
- Regular Fee €2,200 – Apply before 28 May
- How to Enroll Learn more here
Overview
Curate and communicate your artistic identity
In an era of digital noise, we have all become editors of our own lives – filtering our feeds and polishing our personas. But true curation goes deeper than that. This masterclass reclaims the original meaning of CURAE: the act of taking care.
Led by world-renowned artist and curator Erik Kessels, this 8-month journey invites you to look inward to move forward. We will explore how "taking care" of your personal identity, your career trajectory, and your deepest obsessions can be distilled into a powerful personal brand and authentic photographic projects.
Through a mix of provocative seminars and hands-on practice, Kessels will challenge you to curate your own path and work on the possibilities and obstructions you will face in your artistic professional career. You will learn to identify what you truly care about and transform it into a cohesive creative presence where your vision will become as intentional as the images you create and present to your audience.
Head professor
Erik Kessels
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.
“How can you bring your own personality and your own style into your work? And how can you in your own unique way communicate about it? Many photographers and artists unconsciously perform a version of themselves they believe the art world expects. I try to dismantle that protective layer. Discomfort is productive, it reveals habits, insecurities, and clichés. Once those are exposed, there is space for honesty. And honesty is where meaningful work begins”.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
8 Group Sessions
These collective critique sessions provide a space to share your progress and questions to both the class and the head professor, and exchange ideas. They are the foundation to build a long-lasting community within the group, as they open up relevant conversations that often continue beyond the meeting. Each participant has a scheduled time to present their work, followed by feedback and discussion.
3 One-on-One Sessions
The 30-minute individual mentoring sessions provide dedicated time for in-depth discussion with Erik Kessels, focused on refining your ideas and enhancing your methodology. Spread throughout the program, sessions are tailored to your specific needs, with the flexibility to book the time slot that best fits your schedule.
4 Seminars
Erik Kessels’ lectures offer theoretical and practical guidance, equipping participants with the tools they need to research, produce, design, and promote their work. As they alternate reflection, case studies, and open discussions, the seminars are an opportunity to develop critical thinking and ground useful skills.
Starting from his own practice, the first seminar will focus on Kessel’s curating experience and strategy. The two following sessions will be aimed at answering concrete questions on production, communication, as well as budgeting and financial aspects. In the last seminar, Kessels will reflect on the relationship with the audience – how to respect your public without pleasing it, while still keeping authenticity at the core.
10 Online Studio Visits
To grant you industry insight and foster cross-disciplinary exchange, we have invited expert practitioners to host 10 online studio visits. You will meet artists, curators, designers, editors and art directors and develop a deeper understanding of their production, methodology, and professional roles. Lectures are always followed by an open Q&A, providing space for direct conversation. Studio visits are shared across PhMuseum’s five masterclasses, bringing participants from different programs to meet each other and engage in a broader range of topics.
Past editions lecturers include: Jörg M. Colberg, Lisa Barnard, Natasha Christia, Niccolò Fano, Vasantha Yogananthan, Hoda Afshar, Magali Avezou, Peggy Sue Amison, Sofia Borges, Taco Hidde Bakker, Chao Tayiana Maina, Jan Hoek, Laia Abril, Mathieu Asselin, Thomas Sauvin, Amak Mahmoodian, Bindi Vora, Julie Bonzon, Monica Allende, Sybren Kuiper, Geert Goiris, Lea Vene, Melissa Catanese, Celeste Baracchi, Flavia Parisi, Giuliana Benassi, Luca Santese, Tristan Lund, Vasco Forconi, Elisa Medde, Federico Clavarino, Jon Uriarte, Lars Willumeit, Sayuri Ichida, Silvia Rosi, Alain Bieber, Anne van der Zwaag, Annegien van Doorn, Barbara Hofmann-Johnson, Claudia Kussel, Ami Beckmann, Fragmentin, Francesco Zanot, Jean-Vincent Simonet, Paolo Cirio, Tanvi Mishra, Jackson Whitefield, Brian Paul Lamotte, Max Houghton, Olivia Gideon-Thomson, Renée Mussai, Simon Gush, and Thomas Struth.
Alumni
“Erik pushed me out of my comfort zone, made me sit within 'not knowing,' and move forward despite the uncertainty. It made me more explorative.”
“The Masterclass helped me translate intuition into language. Erik’s sessions challenged me to make my ideas graspable to others without simplifying them.”
“Erik has a way of cutting through to the core of an idea. His questions are rigorous and generous, challenging you to go deeper without prescribing a path. His sense of humor and honesty made the process not only intellectually engaging but also refreshingly grounded.”
“Apply – I’m so glad I did. CURAE offers invaluable time and space for personal and artistic growth. It equips you with the tools and insights needed to confidently present your work to prospective exhibition spaces and collaborators.”
Why Apply
Conclude a body of work
Our programs provide you with the necessary space, time, and support to develop your project and bring it to completion. The structure is located in-between an academic program and a more autonomous process: while your personal motivation is key, the program’s resources are designed to help you focus, and weave together the threads of your practice.
Develop a solid methodology
Taking part in CURAE is an investment in the interrogation of your own practice. Over eight months, your work will undergo various cycles. Presenting to the class throughout them will push you to ask new questions and challenge your ideas – a continuous exchange bringing new strength to your critical thinking. Staying consistent during this process will help you navigate phases of uncertainty, structuring a methodology that works for you. This is something you will carry into future bodies of work, and keep developing as your practice grows.
Join a growing community
Peer support is a key aspect of artistic development, particularly when working on a new project. Yet, finding a solid network outside of traditional education paths can be difficult, especially if living in locations that aren’t central to the art system. Our masterclasses are meant to fill this gap, and provide connection. Every year, participants build relationships that last after the masterclass ends. Thanks to the international nature of the program – which has so far welcomed practitioners from all continents – these bonds are also enriched by diverse cultural and aesthetic perspectives.
Participants further keep in touch with the PhMuseum team, accessing our professional network and dissemination opportunities. Events such as the International Photography Festival PhMuseum Days and publishing fair Photobook Mania, held annually in Bologna, Italy, are opportunities to meet and consolidate connections in real life.
Enjoy a flexible remote program
Designed to accommodate a worldwide audience, the program is built on flexibility. Sessions are generally held from 3pm to 6:30pm CET (Rome), which makes them accessible across time zones from different continents. With all meetings recorded and a user-friendly booking system for individual slots, the program is suited for those balancing their practice with professional or travel commitments. Upon successful completion, you will receive a certificate attesting your dedication.
Opportunities
Exhibit in Bologna
Upon the program's conclusion, one or more participants across all five Masterclasses will be selected for a solo or duo exhibition at PhMuseum Lab in Bologna, Italy, scheduled for November 2027. Other than providing a professional stage to present your project locally, the exhibition is an opportunity to work with our curatorial team, and test new dissemination avenues for your project.
Publish in our printed magazine
A project from all five Masterclasses will be selected for an extensive feature in the upcoming issue of PhMuseum Annual magazine, our new printed publication. Furthermore, all participants’ works will be mentioned in an archival section of the magazine. Being part of the Annual ensures your work reaches the bookshelves of collectors, curators, and photography enthusiasts worldwide, while belonging to a tangible physical record that will last in time.
Screen at our publishing fair
All the projects developed within the masterclass will be screened in a dedicated section of Photobook Mania, our annual event dedicated to photography and printed matter happening in Bologna, Italy, in October 2027. Here, your work will be seen by enthusiasts, curators, and publishers alike: it is an opportunity to have it reach a wider audience, presenting it to field professionals in person.
HOW TO ENROLL
Now → 28 May
Apply for free
Log in to PhMuseum to submit your personal data, portfolio, and motivational letter. To be considered for a scholarship, ensure you apply by 30 April, and include a paragraph explaining how you’d benefit from it. This deadline also secures the €1,850 Early Bird rate, while applications submitted through 28 May will be charged the regular €2,200 fee.
29 May → 15 July
Wait for invitation
Our education team will review each application and start inviting participants on a rolling basis. Please be patient, and keep the status of your application monitored in the dedicated section of your personal profile.
15 June → 31 July
Secure your spot
If selected, you will be notified regarding the specific deadline to pay your deposit. Completing this payment is required to formally secure your spot in the masterclass. Remember to check your spam folder regularly to ensure you don't miss our update.
September
Get ready
Once your participation is confirmed, all that’s left is to prepare for the program. We will share the detailed schedule and further information with you.
Scholarship
Each Masterclass offers one fully-funded scholarship, meant to cover the participation costs for a deserving candidate. We prioritize applicants facing challenging financial or political circumstances.
The scholarship application deadline is 30 April. If you wish to be considered, you must include a statement explaining why you are seeking financial support and how the scholarship would impact your participation.
External funding
If you are offered a place in the class, but are not selected for the scholarship, PhMuseum is happy to provide a letter of support to assist you in securing external funding. We recommend exploring these opportunities in advance. In previous editions, participants have had their fees covered thanks to the support of the IWMF Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists, Mondriaan Fonds, Arts Council Malta, and various other international programs.
Other courses you might be interested in
Past Editions
FAQ
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In past editions, did participants have the opportunity to meet each other?
OpenWe encourage all Masterclasses participants to join us in Bologna for PhMuseum Days, our biennial international photography festival, and Photobook Mania, an annual gathering dedicated to visual publishing. Over the years, we have also met at other events such as Les Rencontres d'Arles, Fotografia Europea, Paris Photo, and Lodz Fotofestiwal.
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Are the masterclasses more of a beginner or advanced course?
OpenWhile a professional level of expertise isn't strictly required, you should have a foundational understanding of photography and a sincere passion for developing your work. We generally filter applications to create heterogeneous and motivated groups of talented participants.
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What are the times and days the classes would take place?
OpenYou 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). Individual tutoring sessions are flexible, allowing you to book the slot fitting your needs the most.
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Can the online portfolio be just the personal website, or does it need to be a regular portfolio of my work?
OpenYou can provide an online portfolio link and/or a private link from Google Drive or Dropbox. As an addition to that, including your Instagram handle is also possible. We do not accept temporary WeTransfer links, as well as email applications.
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Is it possible to join some of the Studio Visits offline?
OpenEach 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.
Contact us
Reach out at edu@phmuseum.com