Organizer Information
HDK-Valand – Academy of Art and Design and the Hasselblad Foundation are internationally recognized institutions dedicated to advancing artistic research, education, and photographic culture. HDK-Valand, part of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, is a leading centre for education and research in fine art, design, film, photography, and related creative disciplines.
The Hasselblad Foundation was established in 1979 and is one of the world’s most important organizations supporting photographic practice. The foundation promotes photography through exhibitions, research, publications, grants, and educational initiatives, including the prestigious Hasselblad Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to the medium.
Together, HDK-Valand and the Hasselblad Foundation organize the Hasselblad Foundation Curatorial Intensive in Photography, a new educational programme designed to support emerging curators and cultural practitioners interested in photography, image circulation, and contemporary curatorial practices.
Title & Description
Hasselblad Foundation Curatorial Intensive in Photography — São Paulo 2026
HDK-Valand and the Hasselblad Foundation invite applications for the first edition of the Curatorial Intensive in Photography, taking place in São Paulo, Brazil, in December 2026.
This intensive course explores photography as more than an exhibition medium, focusing on how images circulate, create meaning, and interact with different communities and publics. The programme provides a collaborative learning environment where participants can develop curatorial ideas through seminars, collective discussions, site visits, and conversations with professionals.
Participants will explore photography in relation to place, public engagement, institutions, responsibility, and contemporary cultural practices. The programme emphasizes dialogue, experimentation, and the development of new perspectives rather than the creation of a finished exhibition proposal.
Selected participants will receive full support covering travel, accommodation, and participation costs.
Categories
- Photography
- Curatorial
- Visual Arts
- Research
- Art Writing
- Culture
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Art Critic
Eligibility
- Applicants based in Sweden.
- Emerging curators and cultural practitioners developing an interest in curatorial practice and photography.
- Participants at an early stage of their professional development.
- Current students in higher education.
- Recently graduated individuals.
- Independent practitioners.
- Artists.
- Educators.
- Researchers.
- Producers.
- Cultural workers.
- Professionals working within institutions or organizations.
Applicants do not need a formal academic background in curating, photography, or arts. The organizers welcome participants from diverse fields, including:
- Art
- Design
- Medicine
- Social sciences
- Education
- Humanities
Candidates should demonstrate:
- Active interest in photography and image-based practices.
- Motivation to explore how images circulate and engage different publics.
- Ability to communicate ideas about a curatorial interest, concern, or direction.
- English language proficiency.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Fully funded participation in the Curatorial Intensive in Photography.
- Covered travel costs to São Paulo, Brazil.
- Accommodation during the programme.
- Participation costs covered.
- Access to seminars, collective discussions, and professional conversations.
- Opportunity to develop curatorial thinking through collaborative practice.
- Engagement with photography professionals and international cultural networks.
- Experience connecting photography with public practice, institutions, and contemporary image culture.
This programme does not provide a cash prize or direct grant payment.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Contact Details
- CV / Biography
- Written Application
- Motivation
- Interest / Concern / Direction
- Photography and Urgency
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted by email to: public@hdk-valand.gu.se
Email Subject Line: Open Call: Hasselblad Foundation Curatorial Intensive in Photography
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 31 August 2026
- Interviews: 2 September 2026
- Notification Date: 6 September 2026
- Programme Dates: 2026/11/30 – 2026/12/05
Location
São Paulo, Brazil
Additional Details
- The programme language is English.
- This is the first edition of the Hasselblad Foundation Curatorial Intensive in Photography.
- The programme focuses on photography as a social, cultural, and artistic practice.
- Participants should be prepared for collective learning, discussions, site visits, and collaborative development.
- Programme dates may be subject to change.
- Applicants must be based in Sweden at the time of application.
- The opportunity is designed specifically for emerging curators and cultural practitioners rather than established senior professionals.