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.
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:
- Women Photographers Australia website gallery,
- At the online presentation at the National Congress of Women Climate Conference on the 30th November, 2021.
- The Launch event at Photoaccess on 10th February 2022.
- The Handover of the Visual Petition in Federation Mall Canberra June 2022.
- The Visual Petition has been acquired in printed form to the National Library of Australia and there is also a copy held at Parliament House.
- The #everydayclimatecrisis Visual Petition Exhibition at CLIMARTE Gallery Melbourne VIC
- The tabling of the petition to Parliament on the 28th July.
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
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.
| Present | Spread the word |
| November 2021 | National Congress of Women Conference Presentation of curated images submitted so far. |
| 10th February 2022 | Launch Event Canberra ACT at Photoaccess. |
| Feb-May 2022 | Promotion of May deadline for Petition images |
| May 2nd 2022 | DEADLINE for submitted images |
| Friday 21st May 2022 | DEADLINE for Petition images to be printed |
| June 8th 2022 | Visual Petition Handover Event |
| June 13th 2022 | Visual Petition acquired by the National Library of Australia |
| July 2022 | Climarte Gallery Exhibition |
| July 28th 2022 | Visual petition Tabled to Parliament |
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