FUTURES – European Photography Platform
FUTURES is a Europe-based photography platform whose primary aim is to bring together the global photography community through its programmes and to support the international professional development of emerging artists. Founded in 2017, the continuously expanding network brings together leading photography institutions from across Europe. Its twenty-one member institutions provide more than 100 promising artists each year with opportunities to take part in the platform’s diverse international activities.
The Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center has been a member of the FUTURES network since 2018. Joining the platform closely aligns with the Capa Center’s core mission: the institution considers the professional support of Hungarian photographers and the strengthening of their international visibility among its key responsibilities. As FUTURES’ Hungarian partner, the Capa Center annually nominates Hungarian artists to the programme, offering them opportunities for networking, mentorship, exhibitions and professional presentation through FUTURES and its member institutions. These opportunities support their professional development and increase their visibility abroad. By 2026, FUTURES had provided development and presentation opportunities to nearly 1,000 international artists with the support of the European Commission.
How do we work together?
The platform is built on professional dialogue among its member institutions and a long-term commitment to nurturing emerging talent. The Capa Center nominates five artists to the FUTURES community each year. Between 2018 and 2026, a total of 45 Hungarian photographers and visual artists joined the programme following nominations by the Capa Center.
Newly selected artists gain access to international presentation opportunities, professional networks and tailored portfolio consultations. They may take part in the platform’s exhibitions, panel discussions, workshops, in-person professional gatherings and online mentorship programmes. The FUTURES community remains open to them beyond the nomination year, enabling them to engage with the platform’s programmes, open calls and further collaborations in the future.
The Capa Center’s Further Involvement
Residency Programme
Since 2025, the Capa Center has also participated in the FUTURES Residency Programme, which gives invited artists time and space for focused work, professional exchange and the development of new projects. Our first residents included Tim Rodot (2024) and Eleni Onasoglou (2025).
Travelling Exhibitions
In 2023, the Capa Center hosted the travelling exhibition FUTURES ENERGY: Redistributing Power and Taming Consumption. In autumn 2026, the platform’s new international group exhibition, FUTURES METAMORPHOSIS, will return to Budapest.
FUTURES Annual Summit
In 2023, the Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center hosted the FUTURES annual summit in Budapest. The large-scale, three-day professional gathering brought together nearly 200 representatives of 20 European photography institutions, including directors, curators, photography professionals and artists. Its packed programme featured workshops, portfolio consultations, panel discussions, exhibition openings and community-building events. Speakers and workshop leaders included Menno Liauw (FUTURES, NL), Salvatore Vitale (FUTURES, IT), Krzysztof Candrowicz (Fotofestiwal Łódź, PL), Esther Horváth (Nat Geo Explorer, Nikon Ambassador, HU/US), Kateryna Radchenko (Odesa Photo Days Festival, UA), Zack Denfeld (Center for Genomic Gastronomy, US), Tom Viaene (Trigger FOMU, BE), as well as Mucsi Emese and Virágvölgyi István from the Capa Center. The event coincided with the opening of the FUTURES travelling exhibition ENERGY: Redistributing Power and Taming Consumption, as well as the international group exhibition Crossing Lines: Politics of Images, organised in collaboration with Foto Arsenal Wien.
FUTURES Photography Partners
The platform connects numerous leading photography institutions, festivals, museums and professional organisations across Europe. Alongside the Capa Center, FUTURES partners include:
Bienal Fotografia do Porto (PT), CAMERA – Centro Italiano per la Fotografia (IT), Centre de la photographie Genève (CH), Centre photographique Rouen Normandie (FR), Copenhagen Photo Festival (DK), Der Greif (DE), FOTO ARSENAL WIEN (AT), FOTODOK (NL), FOMU (BE), Fotograf Zone (CZ), Fotofestiwal Łódź (PL), Fotogalleriet (NO), Fundació Foto Colectania (ES), ISSP (LV), Odesa Photo Days Festival (UA), Organ Vida (HR), Photo Elysée (CH), Photo Romania Festival (RO), PhotoIreland (IE), Photoforum (CH), Triennial of Photography | Deichtorhallen (DE) and Void (GR).
Supporters and Professional Partners
FUTURES – European Photography Platform is co-funded by the European Union’s Creative Europe programme. Eurokleis is the platform’s research and spin-off partner, Magnum Photos its educational partner, and Der Greif its lead communications partner. The Swiss programme of FUTURES is supported by Pro Helvetia.
CONTACT
Project Director and Curator of FUTURES Exhibitions: Mucsi Emese
emese.mucsi@capacenter.hu
Project Coordinator: Szakács Emese Bíborka
biborka.szakacs@capacenter.hu
