Mass Mentorship
2025/26 programme currently underway
An opportunity for new talent from underrepresented backgrounds in architectural photography
The Mass Mentorship is an initiative established by Mass Collective to champion new voices in architectural photography.
Open to young people aged 20–30 in London and from underrepresented backgrounds in the creative industries, the Mass Mentorship aims to create a cultural shift in architectural photography, where the authorship of the images we use to understand our cities fully reflects the diversity of the communities that live within them.
Four selected applicants are each awarded a £750 project grant and a year-long series of free mentoring sessions, masterclasses with industry experts, and a London exhibition opportunity.
The 2025/26 edition of the programme is currently underway, concluding in an exhibition of the mentees’ work to be announced in 2026.
“A valuable experience that has helped me realise my creativity, a truly important step in my journey of becoming a photographer”
Jane Lam, 2022/23 Mentee
The Opportunity
The selected mentees benefit from:
→ Project Grant
A grant of £750 to support the production of their architectural photography project.
→ Masterclass Series
A series of masterclasses with industry leaders in architectural photography and other related fields.
→ Individual Mentoring
A personal mentor to provide support throughout the production of their project, and to share advice on career development.
→ Group Exhibition
The opportunity to exhibit work from the year together in a London group exhibition in Spring 2026 (venue TBA).
→ Networking Opportunities
Building connections with Mass Collective’s wider network, creating new contacts and opportunities.
Timeline
→ 30th January 2025
Open call starts
→ 28th February 2025
Open call closes at 8pm UK time
→ 3rd March 2025
Shortlisted candidates informed
→ Week of 10th March 2025
Shortlisted candidates interviewed
→ Late March 2025
Mentees selected and programme begins
→ Spring 2026
Group exhibition, venue TBA
“This project has given me the chance to appreciate a new way of understanding photography.”
Kes-tchaas Eccleston, 2020/22 Mentee
Mentees
Our 2025/26 cohort, selected from our open call. Throughout the year, each mentee will be developing an independent photography project which will be showcased in the 2026 group exhibition.
Iman Dagnoko
Justine White
Mark Woulfe
Takenya K. Holness
Mentors
Each mentee has been paired with a Mass Collective photographer, experienced in both commercial architectural photography, and producing their own exhibition projects.
Francesco Russo
Henry Woide
Luca Piffaretti
Luke O’Donovan
Guest Tutors
Our masterclass series is led by industry leaders from both architectural photography, and related fields which cover essential skills needed to pursue a creative career.
The Architectural Review Editorial Team
The Architectural Review examines the forces shaping architecture and the impact buildings have on the world in its thematic print issues and digital platforms. Based in London, the AR has been independent and international since 1896.
Celeste Bolte,
Communications Specialist
Founding director of SALT, an independent communications studio well-seasoned in publicising brilliant design. Founded in 2022, SALT has rapidly gained a reputation for representing the UK's most interesting architecture and design practices.
Gareth Gardner,
Photographer & Gallerist
Architectural photographer, film-maker, journalist, gallerist and curator, based in Deptford, SE London.
In 2019, Gareth opened a new gallery space in Deptford. Gareth Gardner Gallery hosts a programme of exhibitions dedicated to photography of architecture and the man-altered landscape.
Hélène Binet, Photographer
Swiss and French internationally acclaimed photographer based in London. Over a period of more than 35 years Binet has captured both contemporary and historic architecture. She is a fervent advocate of analogue photography, working exclusively with film, and a firm believer that ‘the soul of photography is its relationship with the instant’.
Jim Stephenson,
Photographer & Film Maker
Architectural photographer and film maker based in England, working all over the world.
Jim’s work is hallmarked by a keen eye for human interaction with architecture and the built environment, leaning toward a more documentary style.
Manijeh Verghese,
Curator & CEO of Open City
Across her career Manijeh has focussed on creating opportunities to widen participation in the making of our built environment. She is the CEO of Open City, and as a curator has worked on projects including the 2021 British Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, and the South Asia Gallery at the Manchester Museum.
Valeria Carullo,
Curator at RIBA
Photographs Curator at the RIBA. Her principal area of research is the relationship between modern architecture and modern photography in the inter-war years. She regularly writes and lectures on architectural and photographic subjects, and has curated several exhibitions internationally, including her latest Wide Angle View at RIBA, 2023–2024.
