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ABOUT
The ARCHIVO Research LAB is an international fellowship programme for researchers, artists, and interdisciplinary practitioners working at the intersection of photography, archives, and visual culture. Conceived as a mentored environment for research and experimentation, the programme supports interdisciplinary and practice-led projects that critically engage with photographic and archival materials through artistic, theoretical, curatorial, and research-based approaches. Bringing together five artists and five researchers/scholars each year, the programme provides a collaborative environment for the development of research through critical dialogue, mentorship, and publication.
The Research LAB supports theory and practice-based projects from their development to their dissemination through the annual initiatives of ARCHIVO. With a focus on articulating artistic practice and academic research, the fellowship creates a shared space in which both scholars and artists contribute to contemporary debates surrounding images, archives, and visual culture. Each year, the Fellowship selects a maximum of ten participants: five researchers, and five visual artists/practitioners.
The Fellowship programme is structured around mentoring, project presentations, webinars, reading groups, writing sessions, and collaborative discussions, providing fellows with the critical framework to develop their work in dialogue with an international network of scholars, artists, and practitioners. The Research LAB welcomes projects that investigate archives as sites of historical inquiry, visual knowledge, and creative experimentation. It encourages diverse methodologies while fostering exchange across disciplinary boundaries.
Throughout the Fellowship, participants engage with ARCHIVO’s wider research activities, contributing to an active community dedicated to exploring the aesthetic, historical, political, and epistemological dimensions of photography, archives, and visual culture.
The Fellowship is directed by Ana Catarina Pinho (IHA, Nova University of Lisbon), with Gil Pasternak (PHRC, De Montfort University) serving as Senior Academic Advisor. Fellows are mentored by the programme directors alongside members of the Archivo Papers editorial team and invited scholars, artists, and practitioners participating in each edition.
Research.
Practice.
Mentorship.
Conceived as a year-long editorial fellowship, the Research LAB supports theory and practice-based projects from their development to their dissemination through the annual initiatives of ARCHIVO. With a focus on articulating artistic practice and academic research, the fellowship creates a shared space in which both scholars and artists contribute to contemporary debates surrounding images, archives, memory, and visual culture.
Through seminars, mentoring sessions, reading groups, and critical discussions, participants engage with an international community of peers, mentors, and guest speakers while refining ongoing research and expanding interdisciplinary perspectives.
Photography.
Visual Culture.
Publishing.
Publication lies at the heart of the fellowship. The Research LAB programme is closely integrated with ARCHIVO Press, enabling every participant to contribute to the annual editorial agenda.
Each year:
Five Artists / Practitioners contribute one photographic edition to the annual LAB Print limited collection.
Five Scholars / Researchers contribute one original feature to PHOTOFILE, ARCHIVO’s platform for critical writing and research-in-progress.
The
Editorial
Award
At the conclusion of each fellowship, ARCHIVO PRESS presents two Editorial Awards, recognising projects with editorial potential. One award is presented to an artist and one to a researcher.
The Editorial Award supports the development and publication of a new project through ARCHIVO PRESS. Recipients receive editorial mentorship, publication support and dissemination, resulting in an artist edition and an essay publication that becomes part of the ARCHIVO PRESS catalogue.
PAST EDITIONS
TESTIMONIALS
COHORT 2024
SHRUTI NAGPAL
Interacting with fellow Visiting Researchers and participating in the Reading Groups and Webinars was the turning point in my research experience. This global experience significantly improved my confidence and competence as a researcher. Over these years, ARCHIVO's events have offered me valuable exposure to emerging research and academic dialogue.
As a member of the network, I take pride in saying that accessing global archival research through the discourses here has broadened my perspective by exposing me to diverse historical sources and interpretations. Through interdisciplinary cross-cultural and historical perspectives, I am constantly improving my ability to interpret and synthesize complex data. I am grateful to be able to participate, learn and contribute to the ARCHIVO Platform.