Opportunity stands at the door and knocks. Lives on the Line: an exhibition of women’s photo stories is being led by Visual Peacemaker Amanda Conde and supported by Shine Global, a non-profit that believes women can change the world. IGVP is standing in the gap between your photography and the Lives on the Line project. We are seeking submissions from IGVP photographers around the world to grow the collection of photo stories. Continue reading to learn more. 

Purpose: Women can be powerful catalysts for change in their lives and in the world. Women can be the ultimate peacemakers. We believe personal transformation leads to global transformation. We believe art can be a powerful tool for transformation.

Often times, women are taught not to voice their opinions, their stories, their desires and strengths. Our mission is to give women of all ages, races, and demographics a face and a voice, along with a platform to be seen and heard in order to cultivate a deeper sense of shared purpose, confidence, compassion, empowerment. We hope to inspire and connect women across cultures by raising awareness of their shared values, struggles, triumphs, hopes and dreams.

When we are connected & inspired, we have amazing potential to be catalysts for change. We want to celebrate that and we want to invite the world to the party.

Description: Lives on the Line will be a multi-media awareness campaign using photography, film, written word, interviews, and art exhibition that can be added to from other communities around the world. Our goal is a large collection of photo-stories of women and girls representing cultures from the entire globe. This project is supported by Shine Global, a non-profit in Bend, Oregon that believes women can change the world.

Portraits of each woman that include segments of their stories will be exhibited as a collection. If the exhibit is a physical art installation, the portraits will be strung on a wire/clothesline. The line represents the connection among all women across the world, and puts emphasis on women being able to put their lives on the line...empowering women to be heard. The exhibit could also be featured on-line as a collection of photo-stories that includes a short background of each woman.

Shine Global will also create a Lives on the Line curriculum that can be used in schools, by other non-profit organizations, community groups, artists/activists, etc.

Platform: Still searching for venues, but possibly the on-line International Museum of Women’s website, IGVP website, and a physical art installtion at the Women’s Summit in New York City. Wouldn’t that be amazing?

We would also like to create a smaller traveling art exhibit that can be displayed in communities around the world.

Finally, we would like to create a documentary about Lives on the Line that could be shown for awareness campaigns and fund-raising for Shine Global.

Logistical notes: We are seeking submissions from IGVP photographers around the world to grow our collection of photo stories. Photographers would need to submit a non-studio portrait of a woman, along with a short interview completed by the woman. The interview answers can be short and brief. Examples include, “What inspires you?”, “What changes would you like to see in the world?”, “What will you do to create that change?”, “What are you most proud of?”, etc. This document will be provided to all photographers who participate so that we can maintain consistency among the information we are gathering.

The portrait will not by any means exploit weakness, despair or failures. The portrait will show the beauty and strength of each participant. Selection of women will be at the discretion of the photographer. Our goal is to celebrate women and girls from all walks of life and cultures.

We would also like a brief background about each woman so that we can include these in the exhibit in form. We believe that a personal background will give more context to the photo-stories.

Incentives: Credit will be given to each participating photographer in PR material regarding the project as well as listed in on-line exhibits. Behind the scene stories (how did you meet the woman, what inspired you to photograph her, etc.) are welcome and may be included in PR material.

Fund raising for Shine Global will occur through donations at physical art installations and through the sale of curriculums.

10% of monies that result from donations to this project will be donated to the IGVP for development of future projects/education, etc.

Submission Process
• Submissions and stories should be sent to Amanda Conde through yousendit.com. If interested in participating, please send an email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and you will be sent the interview document and instructions for yousendit.
• Please submit black and white, high resolution files, along with the finished interview document.
• Excerpts from the interview document will be edited and included on the photo.
• Submissions will be accepted from August 1st through October 31st.

Point person: Amanda Conde will be the point person for photography and story submissions. Amanda Stuermer of Shine Global will edit the photo stories and determine which photo stories will be included in the completed project. Members involved: Many involved. A collaboration. We would like women from all over the world to be included in this collection. We'll take image and story submissions from all IGVP members. Contributors can be both men and women.

Results: Create opportunities to raise awareness about the power of women to be catalysts for change. Create collaborations with other individuals and organizations around the world in order to expand our sense of shared community and purpose. Create connections among women. Give voice to the voiceless.

Questions: What are possible venues for this exhibition? Do any IGVP members have connections that might help us find a venue?

What grants are available to fund the cost of printing, etc.?

We would like to also have a large-scale outdoor exhibit that would include crossing clotheslines with hundreds of photo-stories at a women’s event. What event would be appropriate and how would we protect the prints from outdoor elements. Lamination?

Copyright issues...do photographers need to submit a document giving copyright to Shine Global?

NEXT STEPS
Please email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if you have questions or would like to participate. We will send you detailed instructions on how to submit your photo and interview document. Thank you for your consideration! We are very excited and appreciate your enthusiasm!