The Bristol Photo Festival and the RPS are hosting a one-day online symposium, curated by Jennie Ricketts. Through the work of photographers and those working within photography it explores themes around diversity and inclusion.

In order for Diversity to have real meaning, people of different classes, ethnicity, ability, sexuality should be given equal opportunity for inclusive collaboration. Photography is arguably the most democratic universal language with a broad global reach, so it seems the perfect medium for bringing people together to achieve this. A festival that celebrates both the practice of photography in its many forms, and offers a commitment to change the disparity between one practice or another can only be a positive means of attaining that goal.

This Symposium for the first edition of Bristol Photo Festival sets out to demonstrate such a commitment. It aims to provide some insight on the work and practice of different photographers, highlight the challenges they may have faced and how they overcame them, and finally identify what is needed and how to support them in their practice now and for the future.

Running Order for the Day:

• From 9.15: Zoom waiting room opens

• 9:30 - 10:00: Introduction from Tracy Marshall- Grant, Bristol Photo Festival Director handing over to Jennie Ricketts.

• 10:00 - 11:00: Keynote speaker Vanley Burke

Break

• 11:15 - 12:15: Joy Gregory in conversation with Jennie Ricketts

• 12.20 - 1:00: Dexter McLean. Pre-recorded presentation.

Lunchbreak

• 2:05 - 3:20 : Dr Shawn Sobers will have conversations with Black photographers Garfield McKenzie from Bristol and Dennis Wiley from Bath

• 3:25 - 4:05: David Constantine

Break

• 4:15 - 5:15: Women in photography panel discussion with Joanne Coates, Kirsty MacKay, Fiona Rogers, Max Houghton

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