Join The New PhMuseum 2025/26 Online Masterclasses Program
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Published18 Mar 2025
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From conceptual thinking to photobook making and exhibition design, work with Adam Broomberg, Elisa Medde, Erik Kessels, Laura El-Tantawy, Nicolas Polli, and Salvatore Vitale, and expand your practice.
We are happy to announce the new edition of Online Masterclasses from the PhMuseum Education Program. 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 conceptual thinking to photobook making and exhibition design.
The 5 masterclasses are sharing a single intake period running through 5 June, 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. Learn more and apply.
FOLIO – Online Masterclass On Photobook Making
Now at 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 having 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. Learn more and apply.
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 mediums, 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. Learn more and apply.
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. Learn more and apply.
Each Masterclass is structured across Seminars, which provide theoretical and practical insights, Group Sessions, meant to share ideas and get feedback in a collective environment, and One-On-One Mentoring sessions where you will meet the head professor and focus on your work's specific needs. A complementary program of 10 Online Studio Visits, shared across masterclasses, will allow participants to engage with external experts presenting their practice. 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, Lea Vene, Federico Clavarino, Fragmentin Collective, Jean-Vincent Simonet, Linda van Deursen, Paolo Cirio, Tanvi Mishra, Francesco Zanot, and Jackson Whitefield.
At the end of the program, a selection of participants will have their work featured in PhMuseum’s annual printed publication.
As a participant of our Masterclasses program you will enjoy a flexible structure that you can access from anywhere in the world, being part of a group of around 70 selected practitioners. Just submit your application before 8 May to secure the Early Bird Fee or be considered for one of the 5 fully-funded scholarships.
PhMuseum's educational program is dedicated to providing a comprehensive learning experience for all participants, emphasizing quality teaching while alternating practice with theory. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and build lasting connections. Check the detailed info and link to the respective programs below, and if you have any questions you can reach us at edu@phmuseum.com.
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Discover each program
CRITICAE - Online Masterclass on Documentary Photography
CURAE - Online Masterclass on Curatorial Practice
FOLIO - Online Masterclass on Photobook Making
IDEA - Online Masterclass on Conceptual Thinking In Photography
MEDIAE - Online Masterclass on Transmedia Storytelling
Where: Online
When: October 2025 to May 2026
Dedication: 60+ Hours
Language: English
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Scholarships and participation fee
Before 8 May – 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 8 May – If you apply by this date, you can save €350. All applications submitted for the scholarship will be automatically eligible for the Early Bird Fee of €1,850.
Before 5 June – 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 2025 Education Funding for Visual Artists about opportunities that can help you secure funding for workshops, masterclasses and other activities to grow your practice.
