About Our Climate Project

The #EverydayClimateCrisis Visual Petition was the first project that Women Photographers Australia tackled. It was a visual response to the Australian governments’ climate change policies. The goal was to crowd-source 1000 images from women and non-binary photographers all over Australia. The power of the Petition arose from each image submitted is speaking truth to power and presenting climate change from a personal and culturally diverse perspective. The result is a powerful social, political statement to the current patriarchal power structures within Australia and therefore advocating on behalf of our Australian land, flora and fauna, indigenous cultures and future generations. The Petition advanced contemporary feminist discourse through photography and activism and shone a light on colonial and patriarchal power structures that have been influential in the climate crisis we face.

Christina Simons: Kangaroo Island An ariel image of the damage the bushfires have done to Kangaroo Island on Thursday the 16th of January 2020.

The sourcing of 1000 images was key to this project as I wanted to interpret the adage that ‘a picture is worth a 1000 words’. This Petition was innovative, in that it was a primarily a collection of images and personal statements rather than words or signatures.

So hence the project events included: 

Handover to Parliament MP’s Alicia Payne, Hon Andrew Leigh, Hon Kristy McBain and Senator David Pocock

This concept was unique, innovative and important in recognising the extensive cultural contribution women photographic artists have made in Australia. Historically and to this day many images that have been commissioned by media organisations or corporate and government stakeholders have often been made by white men. Corporate and government stakeholders have a message they want to tell and a brand they wish to sell so this initiative differs such that women and non-binary people of any ability can submit and the first 1000 images that respond to the theme of the project were accepted.

A Media release with all links can be viewed and downloaded

Image: Daisy Noyes

The project’s aim was to be collaborative and inclusive, hence the use of the word ‘everyday’. This however, does not mean the images submitted are of a lesser quality or mediocre. The power of the images submitted lie in their intimacy and diversity. This project is designed to be a positive experience, and one that empowers girls , women and non-binary people to be part of a collective voice: albeit visual.

PresentSpread the word
November 2021National Congress of Women Conference
Presentation of curated images submitted so far.
10th February 2022Launch Event Canberra ACT at Photoaccess.
Feb-May 2022Promotion of May deadline for Petition images
May 2nd 2022DEADLINE for submitted images
Friday 21st May 2022DEADLINE for Petition images to be printed
June 8th 2022Visual Petition Handover Event
June 13th 2022Visual Petition acquired by the National Library of Australia
July 2022Climarte Gallery Exhibition
July 28th 2022Visual petition Tabled to Parliament

We made the news in the UK

We made the news here!

Image: Chris Byrnes
Video of Opening Night at Climarte Gallery Richmond Vic 18th June by Celia Furt

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