GEM Opens Photography Programme for Emerging Egyptian Talent

The Grand Egyptian Museum is opening its galleries to a different kind of preservation project. Launching in June 2026, Framing Time will turn the museum into a working hub for photographers, bringing workshops, masterclasses, portfolio reviews, photo walks, competitions and exhibitions into one of the world's most significant collections of ancient Egyptian heritage.

Launching in June 2026, Framing Time is a new photography education programme that will bring workshops, masterclasses, portfolio reviews, curated photo walks, competitions and exhibitions into the museum through a collaboration with Cairo-based photography platform Phlog and Legacy Development and Management.

The launch comes as the GEM continues to build its identity as a dynamic cultural institution. "The GEM is committed to creating meaningful cultural experiences that connect heritage with contemporary creativity," said GEM CEO Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim. Phlog’s existing network of photographers, brands and image buyers adds a practical, professional dimension to the programme, allowing participants to engage with a broader industry ecosystem as they develop their practice.

"Framing Time is more than a photography programme. It is a platform for education, expression, and cultural exchange. Our collaboration with the GEM reflects a shared vision of empowering creatives and building a sustainable ecosystem for visual storytelling in Egypt," said Khaled Taher, Founder of Phlog. For photographers in Egypt, the programme offers direct access to one of the continent’s most significant cultural institutions.

Framing Time will transform the GEM into a working creative environment, placing emerging photographers inside a space that houses one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts. Organisers expect the initiative to engage thousands of young creatives through both on-the-ground activations and a parallel digital programme.

"Through Framing Time, we are proud to support a new generation of visual storytellers and create experiences that connect Egypt's past with contemporary artistic expression," said Merette Elsayed, CEO of Legacy Development and Management, which manages the GEM’s commercial and cultural partnerships, brokered the collaboration, and will oversee its implementation alongside the museum. For photographers looking to develop their practice in Egypt, the June 2026 launch provides a structured entry point into the GEM’s network of institutions, curators and industry buyers through the museum’s first formal photography programme.