What is a symposium? -a meeting where a subject is discussed. Usually several speakers talk before an audience on a similar topic. A collection of opinions may be? When creating a symposium, we will need to ask ourselves important questions;
What is the research theme that over arches the symposium?
The theme will feature our outcomes/responses to the water and dreams brief. As much as we will all produce a variety of responses that differ from each other, the title of the project will link them all together and create the theme of the symposium.
What is the context and questions that binds the conversation?
I think the main question that will keep the conversation going will be, what were people’s ideas for this project. There will a few speakers who will talk about their work and their thought process behind it.
What is the community that would contribute and share?
In our case, the students on our course will be involved in sharing their work and contribute to the creation of the symposium.
Who are the audience who would be engaged to listen?
The students in the Banaras Hindu University would be our main audience as they have also created responses to this brief and will share theirs with us. Any staff or students within the college who are interested in this work are also welcome to come join us.
What is experienced or produced as the outcome?
I think a successful outcome of the symposium would be that the students, who we have collaborated with, would have seen a wide range of work produced. They would also experience the difference in outcomes to their own country.
Some conferences I have looked up;
British photographic history-The Photobook-A Conference from Talbot to Ruscha and beyond. The description on the website says photobooks played crucial roles in the creation of photographic culture Brought together speakers from different disciplines to discuss new ideas/approaches to reading, touching and looking at photobooks in its totality. -April 3-4th 2009.
Humanising Photography-explored relationships between photography, humanism, human rights and humanitarianism. includes papers from international scholars Thomas Keenan and Sharon Silwinski, as well as contributions from photographers. -September 25th-27th 2009.
Gideon Mendel-Drowning World. exhibited in the Plymouth Arts Centre, explores the effects of climate change in an intimate way. 17th January-15th March 2015.
Feeling Images: Photography’s relationship with illness, mental health and well being symposium. Divided into three themes, took place for only one day. Theme One-The Photographer’s Personal Narratives. Theme Two-Photography and Therapeutic Collaboration. Theme Three-Photography and the idea of Therapy. -10:00-17:00 April 2017.
I am also a part of a group on Facebook called ‘Women in Photography’ which holds exhibitions and conferences at times. I am looking into going to the next one.
What responsibilities are involved in organising a Symposium?
Project management, organisational skills and great communication is essential. Communicating the event, networking with like minded communities and dialogue. Sharing the responsibilities, taking on a role requires discipline and clear intentions. Understanding the time frame required to develop and maintaining project momentum. Delivering the event with precision and then producing the follow up of outcomes. The roles and actions? Finding a venue, liaising with photographers, promoting the event, managing a budget, online and print based design, maintaining social media, call outs for proposals, project management of time frame, networking and teamwork, technicians, photographers and production, making risk assessments, contextual research, audience research and development, managing digital content, academic knowledge.
Last year Year 2 students created a Symposium called ‘Plymersion’ for their project involving the city and exploring it. Made the first international research symposium in the college. Students corresponded through email, Instagram, Whatsapp and other online platforms to share their images.
