Advance Your Curatorial Vision in Photography
Photographic images are now exhibited more than ever before and in an increasingly wide range of forms and contexts. What are the possibilities and the challenges of making photographic exhibitions today? What are the key ideas and debates? And what are the practicalities involved?
This intensive program spans a full calendar year (January – December), blending guided online classroom study with independent work focused on creating a curatorial project or proposal. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the issues, practicalities, and possibilities of photographic exhibition making, enriched by dialogue with a global community of key figures in the field. Students are encouraged to explore both local and global perspectives in their approach.
Header image by Jeenah Moon, A Trillion Sunsets - A Century of Image Overload, International Center of Photography, New York, 2022 curated by David Campany.
Meet the Team
David Campany
Creative Director, ICP
David Campany has worked worldwide with institutions including MoMA New York, Tate, Whitechapel Gallery London, Centre Pompidou, Le Bal Paris, ICP New York, Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, The Photographer’s Gallery London, ParisPhoto, PhotoLondon, The National Portrait Gallery London, Aperture, Steidl, MIT Press, Thames & Hudson, MACK and Frieze. Read More
Daria Tuminas
Program Lead, Curatorial Practices in Photography
Daria Tuminas is an independent curator and co-founder of Growing Pains, a foundation working across visual arts, publishing, and education to support women and non-binary artists. Since 2019, she has curated extensively for FOTODOK in Utrecht and developed exhibitions at leading institutions including Foam Museum Amsterdam, Les Rencontres d’Arles, BredaPhoto Festival, and WORM. Read More
Program Highlights
The Curatorial Practices in Photography Online program offers a unique opportunity for students and professionals worldwide to engage in a rigorous, year-long course of study tailored for the online environment. This intensive program spans a full calendar year (January–December), blending guided classroom study with independent work focused on creating a curatorial project or proposal.
The program is open to emerging and established curators, writers, photographers, and artists looking to further their understanding, expertise, and professional networks in the field of photographic exhibition making. International in scope, the program takes advantage of the online environment to allow students, faculty, and guest lecturers to be based anywhere in the world.
Program Structure
- Term 1 (January-May): Introduces key concepts and research fundamentals with an emphasis on project development.
- Term 2 (June-August): Dedicated to independent work, students develop their curatorial project under mentor guidance, with no group classes scheduled. Collaborative projects between students are possible.
- Term 3 (September-December): Students refine and contextualize their projects through collaboration with peers and international faculty, resulting in a cohesive exhibition proposal or exhibition.
Class Structure
- Class Schedule: Live classes are held on weekdays from 9 AM to 12 PM or 10 AM to 1 PM EST, totaling approximately 8–10 hours per week via Zoom.
- Program Commitment: Expect an engaging experience, averaging 6–8 hours per week, including live sessions, assignments, and independent work.
Key Areas of Study: Course List
- The Core Seminar Includes: Critiques, lectures, close readings, research, exhibition case studies, short assignments, project development, writing workshops, and contextualizing of work.
- Practices of Display
- Histories and Theories of Exhibition Making
- Working with Collections and Archives
- Working with Photographers and Artists
- Critical Writing
- Photography and other Media
- Working in/with Museums
- Alternative Spaces
- Exhibition Design
- Working with specialized Photo Institutions
- Collaborative Approaches
- Writing Proposals
- Wall texts
- Budget management
- Press and Marketing
- Grant funding
Program Overview
Tuition and Scholarship
Annual Tuition: $12,500
Application Fee: $60
Total Cost: $12,560
On-Site Programs
Annual Tuition: $36,000 $26,000*
Annual Lab Fee: $1,500
Equipment Insurance Fee: $142
Slideroom Application Fee: $60
Total Cost: $27,702
*Thanks to an extension of a significant gift, ICP will continue offering a $10,000 tuition reduction, covering the 2026–27 academic year for the onsite One-Year Certificate Programs. This will be the final year this tuition reduction is available. Tuition for both the Creative Practices and Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism programs will remain $26,000, plus fees (standard annual tuition for ICP’s One-Year Certificate Programs is $36,000).
Scholarship Opportunities
ICP offers a range of merit-based scholarships and fellowships for both domestic and international students enrolled in our One-Year Certificate Programs. These awards are designed to recognize and support individuals who demonstrate outstanding talent, creativity, and achievement in the field of photography.
All scholarship and fellowship applications are processed through ICP’s Slideroom application portal. Visit icp.slideroom.com to begin your application.
Current Scholarship Opportunities
1. ICP Director’s Fellowship
2. Leica Scholarship at ICP
3. Alberto Contreras Scholarship
4. American Vision Scholarship
5. Jan Mulder-Pacific Scholarship
For more details on all scholarship and fellowship opportunities, please visit here.
How to Apply
Application Deadlines
ONLINE - Priority Deadline for Admission and scholarship consideration is October 18th, 2026. Application will be open on May 1st for the academic year of 2027.
ONSITE - We are currently accepting applications on a rolling admission basis for FALL 2026. Application will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, with decisions made as space permits. ICP's onsite One-Year Certificate programs start August 24, 2026.
Application Checklist
Curatorial Project Proposal
Submit one curatorial project proposal, or up to three—either from your previous curatorial work or a new curatorial concept demonstrating your curatorial vision, approac
Statement of Purpose
A one-page Statement of Purpose with less than 500 words describing your reasons for applying to the program and elaborating on the influences on your work, its current direction, and your research interests.
English Language Proficiency Requirement
In addition to the general admission requirements, all international applicants whose primary/native language is not English must demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English. Minimum required scores: TOEFL iBT – 68 (or updated score scale: 4) | IELTS 6 | Duolingo 95
Proof of High School Completion
Copy of Transcript or Diploma from High School, College, University or any equivalent. This document must be in English.
Resume or CV
A summary of education, professional, and other relevant experiences.
Letters of Recommendation
Submit two letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant's personal and artistic strengths. Recommenders should be familiar with the applicant's work and may include professionals from any field, such as employers, professors, mentors, or practicing artists—not necessarily limited to photography. Recommenders are encouraged to assess the applicant's academic abilities, creative vision, and potential for success in the program.
Application Fee
$60 Application Fee.
Meet our Faculty
Study with a diverse faculty of top practitioners and professionals in the photography and visual storytelling fields. Explore Our Faculty
Alumni Highlights
ICP’s Alumni Highlights features graduates making an impact in photography, visual culture, and image-making worldwide. Explore