12 Feb 2020
Posted by IDEA Australia Australian photography industry unites in powerful display for gender equality in the arts
Some of Australia’s top photographic artists are set to hit centre stage next month for a major symposium and exhibition promoting equality and inclusion in the arts.
The Loud and Luminous project celebrates and recognises the important contributions of contemporary women photographers in Australia.
| The theme for 2020 is equality, echoing the United Nations’ sustainable development goals of ‘gender equality’ and ‘I am generation equality’.
Project co-curator Melissa Anderson said one of the main aims of Loud and Luminous is to bring people together for an inclusive discussion that celebrates diversity and promotes equality and cultural change. “This will be the third year that Australian photographers have come together to make a strong statement through their work,” Ms Anderson said. “The stories told in Loud and Luminous 2020, both at the symposium and the exhibition, will address important social issues, such as what equality is in global, gender, economic, social, cultural and environmental concepts—and what changes we need to make to achieve it. “We are so overwhelmed by the amount of industry support we’ve received for the project so far and we are incredibly lucky to have such a great range of speakers and artists taking part in our events this year,” Ms Anderson said. A four-day program is being developed for Canberra, leading up to International Women’s Day on Sunday 8 March 2020. This will include:
A major print exhibition will later be held at Contact Sheet in Sydney throughout April. It will include 100 inspiring and diverse photographic artists from across Australia, aged between 10 and 92, and use the power of photography to shine a light on equality. FUJIFILM Australia National Manager (Professional) Kevin Cooper has praised the Loud and Luminous project and said it was vital for other industry leaders to step forward and support equality and equity across the sector. “When we first heard about the idea for Loud and Luminous three years ago, FUJIFILM Australia loved the concept and we were excited to come on board as the major sponsor,” Mr Cooper said. “At FUJIFILM Australia, our company vision focuses on inventing the future for our customers through diversification and constantly changing the status quo. There is a great synergy between our work and Loud and Luminous and we are proud to help change and evolve the shape of photography in Australia.” Fellow co-curator Hilary Wardhaugh said Loud and Luminous is both a celebration of equality, and also a brave statement of what still desperately needs to done. “If the general public were asked to list influential and iconic Australian photographers from the last 100 years, it would include very few females,” Ms Wardhaugh said. “Many women come in to the industry but they don’t stay. There are less women exhibited in galleries and fewer in leadership positions. “The statistics show that women want to work in this space—they want to create and contribute—but we need to look at improving retention rates and focus on leadership and longevity,” said Ms Wardhaugh. The Canberra symposium will be held on Friday 6 March 2020 at The Harmonie German Club of Canberra, with ticket profits going to support artist development opportunities with exhibition and mentoring with Contact Sheet. Speakers include: Megan Lewis, Paul McDonald, Cherie McNair, Jenny Templin, Dr Ella Dreyfus, Dr Denise Ferris, Emeritus Professor Helen Ennis, Associate Professor Brenda L Croft, Sally McInenery, Anne O’Hehir and Jessi England. The 2020 Loud and Luminous print exhibition will be held in Sydney at Contact Sheet throughout April. The program includes opening events, a community block party on 3 April and educational events over the course of the exhibition. “Last year we had over 2500 people through in one night, and this year we are planning something even bigger. The exhibition is a must see, and we want to welcome as many people through as we can, “ Ms Wardhaugh said. Loud and Luminous is incredibly appreciative of the generous support they have received from Fujifilm Australia, Kayell Australia, Canson, PPIB, Momento Pro, Damian Caniglia Photographer, Print2Metal, and Contact Sheet. Watch: Empowering artist videos will be released in the lead up to the event. They can be accessed via the website: www.loudandluminous.com.auor on social media and youtube channels. Contact: For further information please email loudandluminous@gmail.com or phone Melissa Anderson (0413529242) or Hilary Wardhaugh (0418 255 416).
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