MEDIAE 2026/27
Online Masterclass On Transmedia Storytelling
Led by
Salvatore
Vitale
- 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
Create immersive work transcending boundaries
How does photography exist within a broader media landscape? Visual practitioners in today's interconnected digital era must navigate various languages that continuously influence and shape content production. This process-oriented masterclass with Salvatore Vitale is designed for practitioners seeking to explore the expressive potential of photography through interaction with diverse media.
Throughout the 8-month masterclass, Salvatore Vitale will guide you in creating a multi-layered narrative project while experimenting with diverse research, production and dissemination strategies. Across theory, references, and a toolkit, you’ll gather the foundations to shape and refine a project, while reflecting on strategies to present it in space. You will be encouraged to delve deeper, and develop a language that retains complexity and plurality.
By the end of the masterclass, you will have concluded a transmedia body of work that incorporates photography in conjunction with other media such as sound, archives, interactive platforms, video, gaming, charts, text, and more – a list that constantly re-formulates and expands.
Head professor
Salvatore Vitale
Salvatore Vitale (b. 1986, Palermo, Italy) is a Swiss-based artist, director, and professor whose work explores the complexity of contemporary societies. Using expanded and speculative storytelling through mixed media techniques, he focuses on the politics of systems that regulate modernity and the impact of technological transformations.
Vitale is the Artistic Director of FUTURES Photography and former Artistic Director of EXPOSED Torino Foto Festival, both international platforms dedicated to contemporary photography. He also serves as a Professor at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, where he leads the Transmedia Storytelling Programme. Previously, he was the co-founder and editor-in-chief of YET magazine, an international photography publication.
Vitale’s work has received international awards. It is featured in several public and private collections and has been widely exhibited in museums and at festivals worldwide.
Photo © Cole Ndelu
“Transmedia storytelling is an approach that favors the co-existence of multiple media to narrate a story. I believe it is particularly relevant today as it allows for a certain level of complexity. This approach addresses a visible need in our contemporary world: delving deeper, using narrative strategies to find ethical representations and creating work that embraces a plurality of voices and media.”
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
8 Group Sessions
These collective critique sessions provide a space to share your progress and questions with 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 Salvatore Vitale, 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
Salvatore Vitale’s lectures offer theoretical and practical guidance, equipping participants with a toolkit to work in a transmedia environment. They aim at providing a broader, more inclusive understanding of photography, highlighting non-linear and multi-layered narrative approaches.
The discussion of works and references is key to this process, as well as reflection on spatial strategies to display and activate photography. The first seminar will introduce participants to transmedia storytelling, followed by a second lecture analysing narrative and topics. The third session will be dedicated more specifically to transmedia storytelling in photography, while the last one will focus on the audience and its engagement.
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
“The most compelling aspect of transmedia storytelling for me is the user participation and the co-creation, so that it fosters a sense of ownership and builds community. I think I have unlearned and shifted my direction – Salvatore’s teaching will resonate with me for a long time.”
“It was such an added value to meet artists I wouldn’t probably have had the chance to meet otherwise, precisely because of the location difference. I loved seeing everyone’s progress at each meeting and noticing the connections between our topics or life stories.”
“The masterclass is very well built up. Salvatore knows a lot about contemporary artists and projects in the field of extended photography. Even though eight months might sound like a lot of time, it goes by quickly as there is so much to cover and discover.”
“I wanted to create new work, develop my practice further and add more layers to it. Having worked on a number of photographic projects before I was a bit stuck on how to proceed in my practice. The course helped me to push beyond my comfort zone and start experimenting.”
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 MEDIAE 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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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