Bringing the

Far Away Near

نحول البعيدإلى قريب

Documentary photography education, rooted in Africa and SWANA, open to the world.

Our Mission

For over two decades, we’ve lived and breathed documentary photography. PLATFORM 2020 exists to champion artists from Africa and SWANA, amplifying voices too often overlooked and placing them at the centre of global conversations.

We believe in democratising education: Bringing the Far Away Near, so that access to rigorous, thoughtful and culturally rooted learning is not bound by geography or privilege.

Through a dynamic programme led by experienced practitioners, we equip the next generation of storytellers with the tools, confidence and community to master their craft, define their vision and build sustainable careers.

Across

the Water

A PLATFORM 2020 x No! Wahala Media online residency exploring visual connection across Africa, SWANA & the diaspora

Open Call: 24 July - 7 August 2026
Free for selected artists

Applications closed.

Explore the residency

To Make

in a Time Like This

10 selected works now live on PLATFORM 2020 Showcase

An open call inviting photographers and visual storytellers to respond to what it means to live, endure and make during a time of rupture and uncertainty. Reviewed by Dalia Khamissy, Mohamed Somji, Amak Mahmoodian and Laura El-Tantawy.

View Selected Works

Featured Talks

ON SEEING & BEING SEEN

A four-part series co-curated by PLATFORM 2020 & The VII Foundation

Exchanges shaped by lived experience, led by people telling their own stories and making work that resists the easy frame. Together, they open up more nuanced, self-defined ways of seeing that move beyond stereotype, cliché and crisis-centred narratives.

now available to watch

The first conversation in On Seeing & Being Seen. Recorded live on 9 April 2026.

EXPLORE OUR TALKS

A World of Opportunities

to Expand the Frame

New Chapters will unfold in time. If you’d like to hear first when our next openings go live, join our Letters from Home mailing list.

Workshops & Mentorships

Learn with guidance that meets you where you are. From first steps with a camera to building a book or exhibition, our workshops & mentorships are designed to help your vision grow.
The Documentary Lab

Launching in 2027, our flagship year-long Pathways programme. Designed for photographers ready to make the leap from practice to authorship.
Membership

Coming soon. Our Pathways Membership circle of storytellers. Membership will give you special access to learning, community & inspiration. Whether you’re just starting out or shaping visionary projects.
Talks & Events

Belong to a global conversation. Our live talks & events connect you with inspiring practitioners, exploring the stories & struggles that shape documentary photography today.
Podcast

Coming Spring 2026. Conversations Away from Home, a PLATFORM 2020 podcast bringing together voices from Africa, SWANA & beyond to reflect on photography, belonging & what “home” means.
Expert Sessions

Create with confidence through one-to-one advice from curators, editors, book designers & visual practitioners. Expert voices, brought directly to you.
Merchandise

Coming soon. Carry the spirit of PLATFORM 2020 with you. Thoughtful, creative designs that bring our community into your everyday.