John Fleetwood (curator)

Fleetwood was born in Randfontein, Gauteng Province. He studied Political Studies at the University of Johannesburg (1989–1993) and photography at the Vaal University of Technology (1993–1995). He participated in several research courses at the Visual Studies Department at the Centre of Humanities Research, University of Western Cape, South Africa (2014–2016). Fleetwood is fluent in Afrikaans and English.

In his work as director of photography institutions, as well as curator, Fleetwood is promoting and mentoring young and upcoming South African photographers. Founded by David Goldblatt in 1989, Market Photo Workshop has become one of the most significant non-formal art education institutions in southern Africa, where photography and critical visual thinking are approached as artistic practices for social change. Fleetwood has facilitated, organised and supported a range of different photography education interventions, activities and organisations in South Africa and internationally. In January 2016, Fleetwood started Photo: a platform that develops, curates and commissions photography projects, mainly working with emerging photographers from the African continent. He is a convener for the Centres of Learning for Photography in Africa, a network of independent training initiatives on the continent to develop and exchange photography learning.

John Fleetwood (born 1970), is a South African photography curator, educator who was from 2002 to 2015 director of Market Photo Workshop (part of Market Theatre Foundation, Johannesburg) and has since 2016 been director of Photo: in Johannesburg.