A free half-day symposium in Belfast featuring presentations and panels from the Irish Photo Network partner organisations and invited artists, addressing significant emerging issues around the role of photography in society. The panels will address the challenges facing photography today, exploring how we can navigate photography's complex relationship with truth, identity, and the impact of social media on wellbeing, through innovative artist practices and projects.
13:00 - 14:00 Networking & Lunch Provided
14:00 - 17:00 3 x Panel Discussions with Coffee & Networking Breaks
17:00 - 19:00 Smash or Save - Drinks Reception
Photo Museum Ireland, Belfast Exposed, Source Magazine and Belfast Photo Festival have established reputations as experts in contemporary photography on the island of Ireland. They have deep experience delivering quality programmes to the highest international standards and have worked collaboratively as members of the Irish Photo Network since 2022.
This event forms part of a wider Irish Photo Network programme that includes a cross-border artist commission, mentoring, strategic planning and research into artists’ needs and wellbeing.
Panel 1: Trish Lambe, Artistic Director/CEO of Photo Museum Ireland in conversation with Irish Photo Network commissioned artist Laura Dunwoody. The panel will discuss socially engaged photographic practices, collaboration, and ethical representation of working-class communities.
Panel 2: Deirdre Robb, in conversation with Meryvn Smith and Julia Healey, will discuss Belfast Exposed's ground-breaking Therapeutic Photography programme, a transformative initiative designed to support mental health and wellbeing across Northern Ireland.
Panel 3: Toby Smith, hosts photographers Evanna Devine and David McKinney to discuss how ‘Camera Obsolete?’ has promoted critical debate and raised questions of authorship, truth and the strength of photography as a tangible medium.
Background
The Irish Photo Network was established in 2022 to bring together photographic artists and arts organisations from Northern Ireland and R.O.I. in an all-island open forum.
Aims
The Irish Photo Network aims to build strong North-South collegiate working partnerships to share expertise and resources to support art form development, support the career development of diverse artists, increase access to the arts, build capacity, address key issues and maximise opportunities for the future. The goal is to strengthen and develop cross-border relationships to create a coherent, strong voice for creative practices from Ireland.
Photo Museum Ireland, Belfast Exposed, Source Magazine and Belfast Photo Festival have established reputations as experts in contemporary photography on the island of Ireland. They have deep experience delivering quality programmes to the highest international standards and have worked collaboratively as members of the Irish Photo Network since 2022.
