Conference-a-Thon, 2027

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Call For Papers: Women in Photography: A 24-Hour Conference-a-thon Celebrating International Women’s Day, March 6, 2027!
 

In celebration of International Women’s Day,  we invite scholars, practitioners, and enthusiasts to submit abstracts for participation as speakers, or panelists in a free, online, global, 24-hour symposium dedicated to celebrating the contributions of women to the medium of photography from photography’s announcement in 1839 to contemporary practitioners in 2024. This unique event aims to highlight the diverse and impactful work of women and female-identifying photographers, and those working with photography, across all cultures and time zones.

We seek 18-minute papers and/or proposed 45-60-minute panel discussions that explore a broad range of topics related to women’s contributions to photography. These may include but are not limited to:

• Historical and contemporary profiles of influential and under-appreciated women photographers.
• The impact of gender on photographic practice and representation.
• The role of women in shaping the photographic medium or its exhibition.
• Cross-cultural perspectives on women’s contributions to photography.
• Challenges and achievements of women photographers in various global contexts.
• Where does the project of increasing visibility stand now, and where should it go next?

Our goal is to foster a rich, international dialogue that underscores the significant yet often overlooked achievements of women in the field and discusses/plans the next steps to achieving a greater presence for them. Presentations will be pre-recorded to ensure uniform sound quality and to free speakers to respond to questions during their talks/panels. The conference follows on previous ones in 2025 and 2026, which offered a truly global exchange of ideas.

To participate:
Please submit a 300-word abstract outlining your proposed paper by 1 October 2026. Abstracts should be submitted to Google Forms here: https://forms.gle/EfLxvb7kTaP9XmYa8. The submission form will ask for the name for all speakers, affiliation/s (if applicable), time zone of anticipated residence on International Women’s Day, and a brief (150-word) biography. Selected papers will be notified by 1 November 2026, and detailed guidelines for presentations/recordings will be provided. 

We encourage contributions from diverse perspectives and regions to create a comprehensive and inclusive representation of women in photography.

Join us in celebrating the vibrant and transformative work of women photographers worldwide!

Convenors: Kris Belden-Adams, PhD, Associate Professor of Art History, Texas A&M University; Dr. Gretchen Gasterland-Gustafsson, Professor, Minneapolis College of Art & Design; Damon Stanek, Lecturer, Minneapolis College of Art & Design

Call for papers - closes 1 October 2026
Notification of acceptance - 1 November 2026
Conference-a-thon - 6 March 2027