Project Description

Context

Rich in the experience from the 2004 first edition of the Silesian Workshops of Documentary Photography ( www.silesiadocument.com ) and also motivated by its success we have decided to continue the project to allow new participants to improve their skills in documentary photography.

Like in our prevoius project we have decided to make Silesia the centre of our activity. We're convinced that this region still hides many yet undiscovered places with their stories waiting to be told. The clash of a violently growing civilisation with the power of nature on the ruins of industrialism can release enormous amounts of creative energy. We would again like to invite foreigners to see how our region looks like from from their - not a Polish or a Silesian - point of view. We believe that with the help of cameras and photographic film they will be able to convey their vision and feelings towards Silesia. As photographers we are convinced that we live in a beautiful place, a part of Europe full of unforgettable places, history and atmosphere.

Photography as a universal means of communication makes it possible for a group of people from different countries and cultures to express themselves and discuss. It does not require a knowledge of foreign languages and yet allows everyone to put into images their emotions and observations. Reportage as a photographic technique as an ideal way to tell stories. Depending on the reporters approach it can offer wide range of views on reality.

The projects aims:

• With the reportage photographic technique we would like to show a fresh face of Silesia - a region where despite turbulent fortunes in the past, and the damage caused by industry - beauty still abounds.
• Using a different, fresh approach from photographers from outside the country we would like to fight the stereotypes that make it difficult to change Silesia's image in Poland.
• Working in an international group we will strive to exchange our experiences in documentary photography, working in a international team, we will as try to achieve a high level of integration between the workshop's participants
• Thanks to a series of lectures and workshops in photographic theory and practice, reporters work, ethics and objectivity we would like to widen the participants knowledge of photography.
• By designing our website as a photography portal we would like not only to increase the participants role in shaping the project, but also the create a permanent community a place to talk meet and talk about photography.

The projects range and form.

The project will take place in two phases.

1. www.silesiadocument.com

In this phase a major part of activity in the project will be focused on the Internet. This will allow us to bypass countries' and cultures' borders and make communication in an international group possible.

The website will serve us to:

• post information concerning The Silesian Workshops of Documentary Photography
• to introduce the participants and other's interested in the project to Silesia
• to create relationships between participants
• to showcase participant's photographs.
• to select participants who will take part in the second phase of the project based on the photos they have posted.
• to introduce our partners and institutions that will be involved in the project

We will also create a mailing list that will allow us to:

• exchange information between the participants
• send information concerning the project
• to educate the participants about the history of Silesia

2. Workshops

A group of 25 participants from three European countries will will arrive in Katowice in mid December. This phase will consist of:

Street workshops in international groups.

The main idea behind the project is to divide all the participants into four groups working separately in the Silesian Voivodship during four consecutive days.

Darkroom workshops

Under hte guidance of experienced professional photographers the participants will themselves create prints from film they have shot. The aim of this workshop is to improve the participants skills in darkroom technique and studio photography

Lectures and workshops

We'll offer the participants a series of lectures about the history of Silesia and problems of modern photography. They'll al by led by experienced educators and photographers.

exhibition "We live in a beautiful place"

The project will culminate in an exhibition of participants' work - photos of Silesia they have created and printed.

Participants

A group of 25 young people from Poland and abroad - amateur photographers members of four partner organisations - will directly participate in the project. The project will end in a exhibition of participant's work open to the general public.

Promoting the project.

Given the project's character and its international range the promotion is aimed in two main directions.

With the start of the work on project we have also started to work in the first direction - to look for partner organisations from outside Poland. We have sent invitations to youth and student organisations, photographic clubs, we've also posted information on photography websites and Internet forums. In this way we managed to reach the people who will direct participate of the project.

The second direction involves work on the local polish level. We like the reach people who are interested in photography. In order to do that we want to work with the local and national media outlets. We'd like to promote our project through periodicals and popular student websites. At the same time we'll have a poster campaign promoting the "We live in a beautiful place" exhibition. We want to invite institution of higher education and local government - especially the city of Katowice - to help us promote the project.

Organisers

The main organiser of the project is the European Student's Forum AEGEE Katowice. Many members of our organisation are either amateur photographer or interested in photography. We are also active members of AEGEE - Europe's biggest interdisciplinary student's organisation. Our organisation promotes the idea of a united Europe, of an open and tolerant society, it supports contact and cooperation among students form different countries. What distinguishes AEGEE from other student organisations is the extensive activity in projects on the European level. Through participation in our projects young people will have a chance to learn about other cultures i tradition from around Europe, to form lifelong friendships throughout he continent. Beyond that our project are a perfect opportunity to acquire new skills and experiences.