INVISIBLECULTURE: The FSA - FMD, re-imaging Agriculture

[Littoral]

GRAINS of TRUTH
 From the FSA to FMD: the new rural photography in the post-agricultural era.

Nottingham Trent University,  Nottingham England, 15 - 18 September 2004

An international conference and exhibition programme exploring the role of
photography in documenting and responding to change in rural and farming
communities, and re-imaging rural landscapes in the context of the crisis in
agriculture and the new rural affairs agenda.  Seminars and presentation by
leading photographers, critics, curators: Pyres and Prions, tracing the
social and health impact of BSE and FMD on rural communities and landscapes;
Dead Meat, investigating GMOs, bio-technology, animal welfare, veterinary
and related ethical issues in farming; Via Campesina, interpreting rural
community life and peasant culture in the context of the WTO and CAP
agreements, and globalisation; Rural Shift, documenting social exclusion and
health issues in hill farming and marginal rural communities worldwide;
Grains of Truth: re-framing rural landscape photography and aesthetics in
the context of FMD and CAP reform; and, Hungry Eyes - addressing climatic
change, rural poverty and the world crisis in agriculture. There will also
be a special seminar on recent FMD documentation projects in England, Wales
and Scotland.

Conference and exhibition programme also aims to provide a platform for
photographers, academics, critics, curators, publishers, archivists and
historians, from Britain and elsewhere, to present new work or put forward
project proposals about aspects of rural change, and related landscape and
agricultural issues.  The conference will also involve leading spokespersons
from NGOS, rural activist and grassroots farming communities in Britain and
Europe, including; the HFI Hill Farming Initiative, FFA Farmers for Action,
CPE/Via Campesina, SFFA Small Family Farms Association, WFU Women Farming
Union, ACRE Rural Communities Association, along with senior policy advisors
from DEFRA (Agriculture Ministry), the Countryside Agency, the NFU (National
Farmers Union), leading museums and galleries, and the Arts Council England.

New Rural Photography Exhibition and Commissions programme:
Subject to available funding, several new photography research commissions
and exhibitions opportunities are proposed in association with the
conference.  It is also hoped to use the conference to plan and secure
funding for a five year programme of research, photographic commissions,
curatorial projects, and publications, including digital art and web
projects exploring these and other topics.

The conference coordinators are now inviting expressions of interest and
proposals for conference papers, exhibitions and related research projects
for presentation at the Grains of Truth conference.

For more information please contact:

Hugh Hamilton
Senior Lecturer Photography
Nottingham Trent University,
Burton Street,
Nottingham NG 1 4BU

Tel. + 44 (0)115 848 2746,  email <hugh.hamilton at ntu.ac.uk>