The FUTURES foundation has been selected by the European Commission as a beneficiary of the Platform program for the period 2025-2028. Thanks to Creative Europe, we can continue to enhance our efforts to promote the careers of emerging talents in contemporary photography and have a greater impact on the art world.
We firmly believe that creative intelligence and new narratives can play a central role in shaping society, showcasing the facets of our world, and addressing contemporary challenges. This recognition gives us the opportunity to work in a field that is as vulnerable as it is relevant in creating new narratives to imagine the future.
Over the next four years, FUTURES will expand its activities across Europe and beyond, including traveling exhibitions, symposia, and festivals. We will welcome new members to the platform, such as Odesa Photo Days, Foto Arsenal Wien, and Tbilisi Photo Festival, among others. A key focus will be the implementation of the educational program, alongside the launch of a research-driven residency exchange between Amsterdam, Riga, and Budapest, designed to foster artistic collaboration. Furthermore, FUTURES is committed to integrating strategies that address environmental challenges, promote sustainable practices, and improve artists' working conditions and mental health.
This acknowledgment from the European Commission not only highlights the success and influence of FUTURES but also validates our mission to nurture and promote emerging talent in the contemporary photography world.
The European Commission's continued support underscores the value of FUTURES. Their evaluation report states: “The project is based on a sound and adequate needs analysis. By means of annual research, the proposal adequately identifies imbalances between the amount of emerging artists and the available opportunities to them. For this purpose, the project contributes very well to cultivating a larger market for emerging talent.(..)The project includes strategies to address cross-cutting issues such as inclusion and diversity and or equal opportunities environmental challenges, social care, blended mobility, or a neutral Pop-up exhibition.”
Menno Liauw, Founder and Director of FUTURES, expressed, "This acknowledgment celebrates our past achievements and encourages us to strengthen our ambition, explore innovative ways to support artists, and grow our audience."
Salvatore Vitale, Artistic Director of FUTURES, stated “As an artist-driven platform, FUTURES will continue to support the work of emerging artists, playing a central role in nurturing talent and creativity. It will also showcase and disseminate the evolving nature of photography and its connection to society, narrating the diverse facets of our world.”
