“I tend to think of the act of photographing, generally speaking, as an adventure. My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.” ― Diane Arbus

12 MONTH PROGRAM 2027
The Scottish filmmaker, John Grierson coined the term ‘documentary’ in the 1920’s and defined it as ‘the creative treatment of actuality.’

Werkstatt: offers an educational program of the photographic arts based on Grierson’s deceptively simple definition, designed for students to engage with documentary + art photography, with reference to the complex theoretical and discursive history of this particular and rapidly evolving genre. The program is a framework within which participating photographers will produce a project.

From the outset students will be set stimulating assignments to begin the process of questioning the medium of photography and the practical issues of effectively engaging with the subject. Conceptual, experimental, speculative and straight approaches are all encompassed. Passion is the fuel and an essential motivation for any photographer too actively and intellectually engage in the real world. Key issues are research, shooting, editing and sequencing projects. It is only in the process of making work that the meaning begins to develop. A great emphasis is placed on finding an independent and unique visual voice, via technique and the appropriate visual attitude to the subject.

The Saturday seminars are taught by Werkstatt: founder and director, Michael Grieve. The seminars are for the research, development and production of major projects. For the first 3 seminars assignments will be set that are designed to question the fundamental dialogue of the document/art relationship of photography, narrative and visual technique. Participants will be provided with a reading list of photographic texts and reading material to study.
The Sunday seminars are taught by Patricia Morosan, Francesca Comune and Calin Kruse, and international guest lecturers. Calin Kruse will introduce the development of making a book, involving narrative, sequence and design.
The aim of the program is to produce an aesthetically strong and meaningful body of work to be exhibited at a gallery space in Berlin.

PROGRAM BEGINS IN MARCH 2027
APPLICATIONS OPEN
DEADLINE 01 FEBRUARY 2027

The program is designed for 12 students.
The program is divided into 20 physical seminars . 1 weekend per month divided into 2 seminars. 10 Creative Practice seminars (Saturday). 10 Guest Lecturer and Theory seminars (Sunday).

The program is taught by:
Michael Grieve, photographer, director/founder of Werkstatt: and ArtFotoMode.
Patricia Morosan, photographer and visual artist.
Francesca Comune, photographer, visual artist.
Calin Kruse, founder/director of Dienacht Publishing and director of Leipzig Photobook Festival.

Teacher profiles can be found in Contributors.

The Sunday seminars for the 2027 program will feature a variety of invited guest lecturers.
Past guest lecturers: Uli M Schueppel, filmmaker; Damien Daufresne, photographer and visual artist; Francois le Blond, master printer at Moon Prints ; Anne Barkin, editor of Photo Letter; Tanya Sharapova, photographer; Masixole Ncevu, visual artist.

Private visits to galleries, institutions and archives including the Kicken Gallery.

FIRST SEMESTER 2027 PROGRAM:
March /
April /
May /
June /
July /

SECOND SEMESTER 2027 PROGRAM:
September /
October /
November/
December/
January /
March/

*Please note that the program fee does not cover the costs of production and exhibitions*

Cover foto: Anu Sow

01.03.2027 - 01.03.2028

01.10.2026 - 28.05.2027

23.04.2027 - 11.06.2027

25.02.2027 - 28.02.2027

15.02.2027 - 18.02.2027

01.03.2027 - 01.03.2028

01.10.2026 - 28.05.2027

23.04.2027 - 11.06.2027

25.02.2027 - 28.02.2027

15.02.2027 - 18.02.2027