The French Public Higher Schools of Art
Arles
École nationale supérieure de la photographie
about
Dedicated to the training and to the artistic, scientific and technical experimentation of contemporary image-based artists, l’École nationale supérieure de la photographie (ENSP) is a place where students, teachers, artists, researchers and the public can come together to share ideas and practices around the photographic image.
The ENSP is a higher education institution under the supervision of the French Ministry of Culture, located in Arles in the south of France, a city renowned for its photographic culture. In 2020, the school relocated to a luminous 5000 m2 building, designed by French architect Marc Barani, allowing it to combine its teaching programme with areas open to the public : a 450m2 exhibition space, an auditorium seating 185 people, a library with over 30 000 works and a Fablab laboratory for digital and material innovation around images and related objects.
Proud of its tradition of developing new interdisciplinary reflections and a multiplicity of image-based practices, several spheres of training and activities intersect at the Arles School; from the initial training, open to 25 students each year leading to a Master’s diploma, to the Formation continue for professionals seeking a diploma or certification, as well as research programmes such as the Doctorat, in partnership with the University of Aix-Marseille, and classes for amateur photographers with the ‘Cours de photographie pour tous’, alongside a research and creation mentorship residency programme open to young international artists.
In 2019, a new school building designed by architect Marc Barani as a transparent space open to the public, was inaugurated. The students and staff of the school moved into the building at the start of 2020.
The new building is open to all at street level, with an 185-seat auditorium and 450 m² of exhibition space.
The more private intermediate floor is organized around a courtyard and includes spaces where students and the public can come together. On this floor there are three demonstration rooms, the library with over 30,000 works and classrooms dedicated to professional training (Formation continue).
The lower floor, at garden level, houses most of the teaching spaces as well as colour and black and white analogue and digital laboratories, arranged around an open space where students can share and discuss their work whatever the printing technique used. The school is one of the last establishments – perhaps the last – to continue the practice of traditional processes alongside the most up to date photographic and audiovisuel techniques.
› More : www.ensp-arles.fr
qualifications
The École nationale supérieure de la photographie diploma, a Master’s degree level award, offers three years of study combining solid theoretical knowledge and in-depth technical training in image-based media and contemporary theoretical debates.
It prepares young artists or researchers to start their working life in professions including artist-photographer, video artist, retoucher or image technician, as well as the possibility to move into the fields of exhibition management and publishing.
The Masters degree is open from Bac + 2 level (or equivalent), by entrance examination.
The age limit for applications is 30 years.
On finishing their Master’s degree, graduates are supported by the ENSP for the first three years of their professional life, in particular through continued access to school facilities. A dedicated website offers an overview of their work and their ongoing activities : alumni.ensp-arles.fr
third cycle
PhD IN CREATION
The ENSP has offered the “Practice and theory of artistic and literary creation” PhD since 2013, in conjunction with Aix-Marseille University (AMU). This multidisciplinary project aims to allow PhD students to develop a research project in photography and to combine theoretical and epistemological reflection with their artistic practice.
The PhD is taught at the ENSP and at AMU over 3 years. During the thesis period, PhD students with a photography specialty are co-supervised by an artistic director and by an academic director, professor of rank A, holder of the ‘Competence to direct research’ (HDR) attached to one of the eight research units of AMU (ED 354).
Candidates must have held a Master 2 diploma (or the equivalent) for more than two years and be able to demonstrate research ability in their previous work. Overseas candidates must provide a certificate of competency in the French language at C1 level (issued by an appropriate French institution or cultural centre).
During the research period, the PhD student is autonomous in the conduct of his/her/their research but is in regular contact with his/her/their co-supervisors. He/she/they are also involved in the research activities of their co-supervisors and benefit from the resources and equipment available at the ENSP.
PhD supervision includes 6 doctoral seminars per year for which the guests are chosen by the PhD students and the teaching team according to their research work and centres of interest. PhD students have had the opportunity to present their work to personalities with varied experiences and practices, such as Arnaud Claass and Marielle Macé in 2021, Max Pinckers, Arno Gisinger, Véra Léon, Nathalie Voarino and Alexis Guiller in 2020.
post-graduate
Mentorship Programme
Edition 2021 | Archive and image review
With 40 years of experience in education in image making and theory, the École nationale supérieure de la photographie in the heart of Arles, the emblematic French city of photography, is launching its first international mentorship programme.
The programme is aimed at artist photographers with a professional practice, consolidated over several years, wishing to benefit from in-depth support for their artistic approach.
Starting from a review of your professional career and your artistic practice, you will be guided in giving a new direction to your creative projects, to look at them with a critical eye, to develop their implementation, and to strengthen your technical skills and your knowledge of the world of art and photography.
This individual and group work is led by Gilles Saussier, artist photographer and teacher at the ENSP, with the support of various guests throughout the programme.
This first edition, which will be held in French and English from the 13th of September to the 26th of November 2021, will be punctuated by two Masterclasses led respectively by Susan Meiselas and Pierre Leguillon.
The theme of the 2021 Mentorship programme is Archive and image review.
Throughout the mentorship you will also have access to all of the school’s equipment and activities: digital and film laboratories, computer graphics, audiovisual and editing facilities, photographic studios, the Fablab, the library (with more than 30,000 references), conferences, talks etc.
accreditation of prior learning and experience
The École nationale supérieure de la photographie has been able to offer the acquisition of the school diploma, a Master’s degree award, through a process of validation of prior experience (VAE) since 2007 when it established its own examination and validation centre.
The VAE validates the achievements of salaried, self-employed and/or voluntary professional experience with a view to acquiring a diploma, a professional certificate or a qualification from a list drawn up by the national joint employment commission of a professional branch, registered in the national directory of professional certifications (RNCP).
The VAE is thus a means of acquiring a certification in the same way as school and university paths, apprenticeships and further professional training. It has the same status as other methods of testing knowledge, skills and competences.
› More : www.ensp-arles.fr/studying/vae
ongoing training
For almost 40 years, the École nationale supérieure de la photographie (ENSP), a public institution under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture and Communication, has been providing high-level teaching to train photographers, video artists and, more generally, image professionals.
The ENSP opened a continuing education centre in 2007 in order to offer training sessions to professionals in the image industry, artists and photography enthusiasts.
The teaching programme is based on a precise and complete apprenticeship in contemporary photography, combining technical rigour and theoretical reflection, in accordance with what has characterised the ENSP since its origin.
The ENSP offers both face-to-face and distance learning courses:
› short courses
› long courses, including 3 certifications and a thematic cycle without certification
› a VAE
› a mentorship programme
› tailor-made training for companies
The ENSP’s continuing education team is at your disposal to help you build your training and professionalization path.
› More : ensp-formation.fr
international cooperation
An education in images cannot be limited to just one country or culture.
Partnerships with art and photography schools all over the world and international exchanges are part of the richness of the school’s life and represent a real opportunity for its students.
The ENSP offers a range of international training opportunities. It strongly encourages the mobility of students and teachers as well as the development of artistic and educational projects within the framework of its privileged relations with international partners.
In addition, the ENSP regularly welcomes speakers and foreign students as part of its Masters, Formation continue and Doctoral programmes, helping to enrich its educational provision and intercultural exchanges within the school.
› More about how to come from abroad, how going abroad, and partners school : www.ensp-arles.fr/studying/the-master-degree/international
magazines
The Infra-mince review has been questioning images and thinking around images since 2005. Published by the École nationale supérieure de la photographie and Actes Sud (numbers 1 to 10) then with Filigranes éditions, the journal is constructed around research dossiers offering a space for reflection on the different forms that photography can take. Theoretical texts respond to sets of images. Portfolios developed by artists and photographers sit alongside the work and research of students and former students of the ENSP.
Inframince is available from different art and culture publishing distribution sites and to order from Filigranes Éditions.
› Follow Inframince on Instagram
› All numbers : www.ensp-arles.fr/inframince
post-curricular or extracurricular activities
Courses for all
The ENSP offers courses in the discovery and/or the practice of photography, including technical and practical learning as well as historical and theoretical sessions, within the framework of the Photography courses for all on one Saturday a month from November to April. A restitution of the year’s work is programmed at the end of the courses.
The Photography for all courses are open to amateur or experienced photographers as well as to photography enthusiasts wishing to discover other facets of photographic creation. A regular practice of photography is however necessary.
gallery
The 450 m² of exhibition space welcomes students works, workshops, performances, exhibitions.
› More : www.ensp-arles.fr/evenements
networks
› ANdEA
› ELIA
› L’École(s) du Sud
› Arles contemporain
administrative team
Marta Gili, Director
Delphine Paul, Director of Studies and Research
Céline Bigi, General Secretary
Véronique Louviot, Teaching Secretary
Gwendoline Allain, International Development and Professionalisation Manager
Laurence Canaux, Teaching Secretary for Research and International Development
Yannick Vernet, Fablab and Digital Projects Manager
Marie Viguié, Library Manager
Juan Castro, Further Professional Training Manager
Lucile Guyomarc’h, Communications Officer
Juliette Vignon, Exhibitions and Editions Manager
Sarah Le Brocq, Cultural Projects Coordinator
professors
Caroline Bernard
Nicolas Giraud
Tadashi Ono
Paul Pouvreau
Gilles Saussier
Muriel Toulemonde
Fabien Vallos
Black and White Laboratory and Studio
Patrick Massary, Manager
Alexis Bacot, Assistant
Colour Laboratory
Christian L’huillier, Manager
Axelle Georges, Assistant
Digital Laboratory
Lionel Genre, Manager
Marie Constant, Assistant
Audiovisual Laboratory
Franck Hirsch, Manager
contact
École nationale supérieure de la photographie
30 avenue Victor Hugo
BP 10149
13631 Arles Cedex
from Monday to Friday
9 › 12 a.m / 2 › 5:30 p.m
T + 33 (0)4 90 99 33 33
communication @ensp-arles.fr
www.ensp-arles.fr
students
› 75 Master’s courses students
› 5 PhD students
› 10 to 15 following VAE
› more than 200 professionnals following continuing education