Why Enroll In The PhMuseum Online Masterclasses Program
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Published28 Apr 2025
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Author
CRITICAE, CURAE, FOLIO, IDEA and MEDIAE are held by internationally recognised experts, and facilitate the exchange between a community of students worldwide. Apply before 8 May to access the early bird fee and be considered for the full scholarships.
The PhMuseum Online Masterclasses aim to help participants advance their expertise and establish a solid, long-lasting creative practice. Each course is designed for contemporary photographers, artists, curators, and storytellers who wish to refine specific aspects of their visual language, and make their work grow in an inspiring context. The program further offers one full scholarship for each course, providing 5 participants with the opportunity to attend for free.
Here you'll find some reasons why you might consider sending your application to be part of the 2025/26 edition.
1. Access To Expertise
Through the 5 masterclasses, participants have the chance to learn directly from renowned photographers, editors, and curators such as Laura El-Tantawy and Elisa Medde for CRITICAE, Erik Kessels for CURAE, Nicolas Polli (Ciao Press) for FOLIO, Adam Broomberg for IDEA, and Salvatore Vitale for MEDIAE, who will bring a wealth of experience and insights to the table. From mastering technical skills to understanding conceptual frameworks, the guidance provided by them can be transformative for emerging photographers. Their contribution is complemented by 10 Studio Visits led by experts across various fields. In the past editions, studio visits were led by artists, curators, and publishers such as 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.
2. Improve Your Practice In Different Fields
Photography is vast and multifaceted, encompassing various genres, media, and approaches. Our Masterclasses Program caters to this diversity by offering a range of courses covering different areas and practices, from research and critical thinking to photobook-making and exhibition design. While CRITICAE explores the relationship between personal and critical methods within documentary photography, CURAE delves into the process and strategies of curating photography exhibitions. Through FOLIO, participants will get the chance to conclude a body of work and have it ready for publishing in the form of a book dummy, while IDEA will guide participants in developing new photographic projects that are both conceptually rigorous and visually innovative. Lastly, MEDIAE leads participants to work on a transmedia project spanning diverse techniques and languages such as sound, archival images, video, social media platforms, and text. The rich list of Studio Visits is shared by all the masterclasses, aiming for the different departments to cross paths several times a month. Bringing together experts invited by CRITICAE, CURAE, FOLIO, IDEA and MEDIAE, the Studio Visits broaden the scope of each course and are an interesting source for contamination and further growth.
3. Build Your Network
The PhMuseum Online Masterclasses facilitate connections and collaborations within a thriving global community of artists. With no geographical barriers, participants have the chance to interact with peers from diverse backgrounds, exchange ideas, and forge meaningful relationships that extend beyond the duration of the masterclasses. The learning experience isn't limited to what tutors can give: students and alumni have often been organizing meetings outside of the masterclasses' schedule, establishing long-lasting networks of support. This is not only an opportunity to build a safe and inspiring space for creation, but also opens doors to future opportunities. Many alumni started new collaborations during and after the program, such as Marisol Mendez and Monty Kaplan, FOLIO alumni, who blended their distinct styles for a work commissioned by WaterAid and the British Journal of Photography as part of the WaterAid Climate Commission. Additionally, our annual PhMuseum Days provide a gathering space for alumni to connect in person with their colleagues and other artists.
4. Participate From Where You Are
The PhMuseum Online Masterclasses Scholarship aims to remove barriers to learning and to provide a flexible platform for talent to flourish. Through its online format, the program enables peers and professionals from around the world to participate without the constraints of travel or residency requirements, thereby broadening access to photography education. The masterclasses schedule makes it possible to attend even while being enrolled in other courses or University studies, or engaged in working activities, while setting an online space where you can make room to focus on your projects.
5. Start Creating Your Audience
As you develop your practice, we will guide you in sharing your progress with an online audience. At the end of the program, you will present your work live on Youtube reaching to a wide, global audience. According to the program, you can benefit from exhibition and publication opportunities, which can possibly lead to new connections. Furthermore, a section of the new printed PhMuseum Annual publication will be dedicated to projects developed within the Masterclasses, giving students space to showcase their research.
After taking part in our programs, alumni had the chance to exhibit the work they completed in various locations and international festivals such as Photoforum Pasquart, Encontros da Imagem, Getxophoto, Fotografia Europea, Kranj Foto Fest, Singapore International Photography Festival, PhEST, to publish their projects with publishing houses like Witty Books, Setanta Books, Disko Bay, or to be shortlisted for prizes like the Dummy Awards, Premio Luigi Ghirri, APhF Dummy Award, Charta Award, and Star Photobook Dummy Award.
You can find year-end public presentations from previous years at this link, and be updated on the 2024/25 upcoming live streams through our newsletter.
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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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Application key dates, 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.
