Alumni Outcomes And Progress After Completing The PhMuseum Masterclasses Program

With the 2026/27 applications open until 28 May – and the deadline for fully-funded scholarships approaching on 30 April – we reconnected with former participants to see how their work has evolved through exhibitions, publications, performances, and more.

The PhMuseum Online Masterclasses provide photographers and visual artists with the necessary space, time, and support to develop and complete their projects. Since the start of the program in 2020, alumni have successfully disseminated and established the bodies of work created throughout the five masterclasses: we continue to follow their progress, appreciating their diverse pathways.

“FOLIO helped me clarify and solidify my ideas, giving my project a clear direction. From there, I achieved some major milestones: a solo exhibition, several group shows, and a few shortlist nominations. My work began to gain momentum and find its place, but above all, this journey opened me up to new influences and inspired me to envision new directions and future projects.” – Greta Valente, FOLIO 2024/25

Now in its 7th edition, FOLIO – Masterclass on Photobook Making continues to see projects evolve from photobook dummies into published works, shortlisted entries, and exhibited pieces. To date, 12 projects have transitioned from the masterclass into published photobooks, alongside numerous dummies that have earned shortlists for major international awards.

Recent releases include Say My Name by Simon Emond with Sternthal Books, and Francisco Cantón's Axolotl with Art Paper Editions. In 2025, Clara Simas published Meu pai morreu três vezes with Propágulo, shortlisted for the Paris Photo-Aperture Award in the First Book category. Sandra Guldemann Duchatellier launched her photobook Une Fable Égyptienne with Editions Process, while exhibiting at Le Louxor cinema in Paris during Paris Photo. We are also proud to see the rise of independent initiatives, such as Viridiana Morandini’s self-published photobook Pogo, where a personal archive is transformed into a universal dialogue on memory, youth, and the passing of time.

Beyond publishing, FOLIO alumni are gaining editorial and institutional recognition, highlighting the strength and contemporary relevance of their works. Elo Vazquez's Nine Waves, a finalist for the Star Photobook Dummy Award, was featured in The New York Times reaching a wider audience. Greta Valente’s It Takes All Kinds was shortlisted for Beca Foto Torroella, Getxophoto, Athens Photo Festival and the Belfast Photo Festival among others, and has been exhibited at Photo Museum Ireland in Dublin, at Liquida Photo Festival and at the Antica Latteria di Étroubles in Italy. Her work documents a series of cohabitation relationships between human and non-human beings within the Aosta Valley territory.

“Following the masterclass, we were awarded the Fondart Regional de Aysén – a grant from the Chilean Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage. This support enabled us to bring the project we developed during CRITICAE to life as the photobook Marca de Agua. Created in collaboration with the Chilean publisher FLUQ and the NGO CODESA, the book was released in an edition of 500 copies.” – Sarah Schneider and Stella Meyer, CRITICAE 2023/24

Since completing CRITICAE – Masterclass on Documentary Photography, now in its 6th edition, Sarah Schneider and Stella Meyer have activated their project Marca de Agua, formerly titled Yo Bebo Leche Y Agua, across multiple channels. Through a solo exhibition at the Museo Regional de Aysén, along with talks, workshops for children, and a publication by Fluq, they have traveled across Santiago, Valparaíso, and the Aysén region to foster dialogue on water politics and its impact on local communities in Chile. They are currently preparing to bring the project to Europe, further expanding its reach.

A participant in the first edition, Henri Airo published Probable Cause with Kult Books this April. By restructuring existing narratives, his work draws on media and police archives, re-enactments, and Airo’s personal testimony to understand the circumstances of his sister’s death.

Exploring the intersection of documentary and personal narrative, Melissa Carnemolla’s The Island Within The Island was recently exhibited at the Yeast Photo Festival in Italy. Meanwhile, El Rey Blanco by Maximiliano Tineo was selected for the Circulation(s) festival in France, where it is currently on display, and is set to be published by Dunes Editions via an active crowdfunding campaign. Furthermore, Oliver Woods's You Are My One And Only was recently shortlisted for the Belfast Photo Festival.

“I loved discovering new works from Salvatore’s point of view; MEDIAE really opened my mind to new ways of thinking about the photographic image. Approaching photographic narrative through different languages and media is absolutely the way forward for the future.” – Ignacio Navas, MEDIAE 2024/25

MEDIAE – Masterclass on Transmedia Storytelling encourages artists to push the boundaries of photography, integrating diverse media. The physical presence of their projects across activations and installations is a crucial aspect of the program. Alina Cristea has exemplified this approach with her project Bucharest—The City with One Inhabitant. The City-Me. Following a solo exhibition at Sint-Lukasgalerie in Brussels, Belgium, Alina adapted the work into a live performance for The Power Of Storytelling journalism conference in Bucharest, Romania, demonstrating how a photographic project can evolve into a dynamic, time-based experience.

Merging the flow of smartphone archives with the tactile permanence of ceramics, Thalles Piaget’s Misleading Gimmicks was recently exhibited at TANK, Institute Art Gender Nature, Basel, and at KBCB - Kunsthaus Biel Centre d’art Bienne in Switzerland, while Ignacio Navas has seen his project Kickflip selected for Festival Mirades in Girona and featured in the Plastic and Visual Arts Support Fellowship Exhibition at the Sala de Armas de la Ciudadela in Pamplona, Spain. His interactive project – similar to a visual novel, or a walking simulator videogame – is built from recent photographs, found documents, vernacular images, and audio recordings, gathering the testimonies of people whose teenage years revolved around a skatepark in Tudela, Spain, in the 2000s.

Furthermore, Debbie Castro’s Age Is A Privilege, Unless You Forget! – an analysis of her father’s life with dementia – has recently been published by The Library Project, and showcased at the International Centre for the Image, in Dublin, as part of the New Irish Works selection.

“CURAE with Erik Kessels has been a constant rollercoaster between introspection and the exit of the comfort zone. In every sense! Working and interacting with such an open minded and grounded artist, who challenges you constantly, strengthened my approach to planning and research. My work gained freedom. After the masterclass, Manual Of How To Become A Good Girl took its own natural path. I started to share it and was embraced with a variety of opportunities. I’ll always be grateful for having taken part to this class, full of talented artists.” – Vanessa Lucrezia Francia, CURAE 2024/25

CURAE – Masterclass on Artistic Development is designed to help artists bridge the gap between research and public presentation, between personal identity and artistic presence. Since the end of the program, Vanessa Lucrezia Francia's Manual Of How To Become A Good Girl gained significant momentum. It was shortlisted for the FE+SK Book Award, PhEst, and the Perimetro Awards, while receiving editorial coverage in Elle Italia and Internazionale. She is currently developing a physical dummy after being nominated for FUTURES by the Capa Center, with a solo show at LeCave in Rome and one more upcoming exhibition scheduled within the Circuito OFF at Fotografia Europea.

Lorraine Hellwig utilized her time in CURAE to evolve her work Fulminaria, which originated during an art residency. The resulting project was exhibited at Filanda in Trissino, Italy. Louise Fago-Ruskin is currently presenting Til All Is Correct, a multidisciplinary exhibition exploring exile and displacement, at MIRROR in Plymouth, UK, where she will host an Artist Talk on 18 May. Plus, Chang-Ching "Casper" Su's A Dream Cast In Dormancy (Even The Shadows Glow In The Dark) was exhibited at Now Space in Taipei and at MIA Photo Fair in Milan. His work investigates the eerie phenomenon of neon-green light pollution in the Matsu Islands caused by unregulated squid fishing.

The impact of the masterclass yet extends beyond tangible outcomes and recognition: every year, 60+ practitioners are empowered to conclude bodies of work, gaining the confidence and tools to move forward in their paths.

Last year, we introduced IDEA – Masterclass On Conceptual Thinking, currently concluding its first edition. To celebrate the end of this cycle and offer a preview of the projects it fostered, we invite you to join our Year-End Presentations. Starting Thursday, 30 April, we will be hosting weekly live-streamed sessions on our YouTube channel: follow FOLIO on 30 April, MEDIAE on 7 May, IDEA on 14 May, CURAE on 21 May and CRITICAE on 28 May.

We are happy to state that the relationships built during the programs very often extend beyond the digital ecosystem they were born in: masterclasses alumni often end up collaborating on new projects together. In the meantime, we often receive photos from our participants meeting each other all across the world. As the network expands year after year and proves to be a long-lasting one, we look forward to welcoming a new generation of artists for the 2026/27 edition.

--------------

The Online Masterclasses are designed to support participants in enhancing their skills and building a sustainable, enduring creative practice. Each course is tailored for contemporary photographers, artists, curators, and storytellers who want to fine-tune particular elements of their visual language and expand their work within an inspiring and dynamic environment. Check out which program suits you best at phmuseum.com/masterclasses

--------------

Scholarships and participation fee

Before 30 April – If you apply by this date, you are eligible for the full scholarship. In your motivational letter, explain why you’d be a strong candidate, and how you would benefit from this support.

Before 30 April – If you apply by this date, you can save €350. All applications will be automatically eligible for the Early Bird Fee of €1,850.

Before 28 May – If you apply by this date, you can join the program by paying the Regular Fee of €2,200. Since applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis, early submissions receive priority for seat allocation.

If you are offered a place, PhMuseum is happy to write you a supporting letter when you try to secure any external funding opportunities. In previous editions of our masterclasses program, the candidates' fees were covered thanks to the generous contribution of the IWMF Howard G. Buffett Fund for Women Journalists, Mondriaan Fonds, Arts Council Malta, and other programs. Read our guide to 2026 Education Funding for Visual Artists to discover opportunities.