Fabrica, Brighton
The Photoworks Summit took place 12 and 13 March 2024! We had the opportunity to explore:
the thing about festivals, the thing about photography, the thing about photobooks, the thing about placemaking, the thing about survival, the thing about care, the thing about exhibitions, the thing about sustainability, the thing about access, the thing about the thing, the thing about ideas, the thing about representation, the thing about collaboration, the thing about us.
Photoworks Summit was the place for photographers, creatives and arts professionals to gather and explore ‘The Thing’ about photography; from festivals to photobooks and across creative and professional practices. It featured two days of presentations, performances, round tables and practical sessions, Photoworks Summit was an opportunity to meet, exchange and collaborate.
Programme
Day 1, 12 March
11am – Doors open
11.30am – Programme starts
12pm to 1pm – The Thing
Inspired by Photoworks’ latest annual publication we have two sessions featuring writers and photographers from the Photoworks Annual #30 presenting on thingification. In this session, we have Diane Smyth (Editor, Photoworks), Jermaine Francis (Photographer), Ben Burbridge (Writer), and Eugenie Shinkle (Photographer).
1pm to 2pm – Lunch
2pm to 2.40pm – The Thing
As part of The Thing, this talk discusses the rights of the subjects of image making in relation to your practice. In this session, we have Diane Smyth (Editor, Photoworks), Jess Crombie (Writer), Siobhan Warrington (Writer).
2.55pm to 3.45pm – The future of photo festivals
Two sessions will explore new models of festivals. This session focuses on sustainability, care, climate, ideas, and new ways forward. With Louise Fedotov-Clements, Maria Teresa Salvati and Helen Starr.
4pm to 5pm – The future of photo festivals
Two sessions will explore new models of festivals. This session focuses on exhibition and placemaking. With Julia Bunnemann, Alejandro Acín and Christine Eyene.
7pm to 12am – The afterparty
Let off some steam in an evening of words, image and dancing at Fabrica! Local spoken word poets Erin James, Noah Martin and AFLO. the Poet will be performing in response to this year’s Photoworks Annual #30 The Thing. Followed by a very special DJ set by Artist Matthew Arthur Williams and special guest slideshows.
Day 2, 13 March
9.30am – Doors open
10am – Programme starts
10.10am to 11.45am – A guide to consuming festivals without being devoured
Looking at art and photography festivals through a humane lens. Join Ashokkumar Mistry together with Anna Farley (Project Artworks Associate Artist), Sonia Boué (Author of Neurophototherapy) and Ngozi Ugochukwu (photographer, filmmaker and performer) present a holistic panel discussion and interactive Q&A leading to a collective record of thoughts on the accessibility of future festivals.
12pm to 1.30pm – Roundtables
An opportunity to sit at a table together to listen and join in with conversations about the most compelling challenges in our industry concerning practitioners and producers. From the thing about the role of art, to the thing about collective practice, we will delve into the important issues that impact creative practitioners today. Special guests will be present at each table with a nuanced perspective on the topic at hand.
1.30pm – Lunch
2.30pm to 4.45pm – Photobook club
Presentations that will highlight four approaches to photobook making, featuring photographers in conversation with publishers and curators. Tamsin Green (The Sustainable Photobook Publishing Network)/ Sayako Sugawara (Photographer); Jane & Jeremy (Designers/Publisher) / Elizabeth Fullerton (Writer) / Hannah Hughes (Artist); Julia Bunnemann (Curator, Photoworks) / Matthew Arthur Williams (Artist); Diane Smyth (Editor, Photoworks) / David O’Mara (Photographer).
Throughout both days delegates will be able to explore participatory exhibition installations of the two Photoworks Festival in a Box editions, a print sale, interactive making and ideas. A screen will show short films about photography including one on our national Picturing the Highstreets programme with Historic England. Plus two curated photobook installations including a photobook reading room by The Sustainable Photobook Publishing Network; and independent publishers Jane & Jeremy curate a photobook exhibition of indie books and contemporary publishers. We have also invited a text and image intervention by artist Gabrielle de la Puente (The White Pube) about accessing culture at home.
Visual identity from Jane & Jeremy.
