Black Women in Photography Conference to Transform SA’s Creative Landscape
The Muholi Art Institute (MAI), in partnership with The Market Photo Workshop and Ruth Motou Photo Mentorship, will host the landmark Black Women in Photography (BWP) Conference from 21-23 August 2025 at The Market Square, Newtown, Johannesburg.
Under the visionary leadership of world-renowned photographer Zanele Muholi, an alumnus of The Market Photo Workshop, this historic gathering will centre the voices, experiences, and creative power of Black women photographers. It will challenge industry inequities, reclaim space, and redefine the future of South African photography through care, collaboration, and unapologetic visibility.
The BWP Conference addresses an urgent truth: the work and stories of Black women in photography remain too often unseen, unheard, and undervalued. Rooted in the principle of izandla ziyagezana (reciprocity), the conference will build a creative ecosystem where Black women can thrive, protect their work, and shape legacies that cannot be erased.
Core Focus Areas:
· Collaboration in Practice: Breaking silos to foster shared growth and collective success.
· Mentorship Without Exploitation: Creating accessible, ethical pathways for emergent talent.
· Safety and Security: Addressing threats to physical safety, emotional wellbeing and professional integrity.
· Creative Practice in Trauma & Wellness: Sustaining artistry while navigating the emotional toll of documenting truth
· Achieving & Ownership: Preserving Black women’s visual histories under their own control.
Voices from the Movement:
“The BWP Conference is a powerful platform for Black women photographers to reclaim our space and tell our stories with authenticity. It’s a movement that will inspire and empower us to shape the future of photography.” Lindeka Qampi, MAI mentee & featured speaker
“Through the BWP Conference, MAI is creating a space where Black women photographers are seen, supported, and celebrated. This is about building sustainable creative futures rooted in care and integrity.” AddsLufuno Ramadwa, Producer, MAI.
“Being part of MAI’s vision feels like a homecoming. It’s a space to connect, protect our work, and grow as artists who carry our communities’ stories.” concludesCharmain Carrol, Market Photo Workshop alumnus.
Beyond the three-day programme, MAI envisions long-term impact, including integrating women’s archives into visual arts curricula in schools, ensuring the next generation grows up seeing themselves reflected in history.
This is not just a conference. It is a call to action for photographers, artists, educators, and cultural advocates to be part of a global conversation on cultural resistance, gender equity, and the power of visual storytelling.
Released by: Kwathole Conexion on behalf of Muholi Art Institute (MAI)
Media Contact: Thanduxolo Jindela – +27 73 844 7848 | kwathole@gmail.com | media@kwathole.co.za
About the Muholi Art Institute (MAI)
Founded by globally acclaimed photographer Zanele Muholi, MAI is dedicated to empowering Black photographers through mentorship, grants, and advocacy. MAI creates transformative spaces for creative expression, cultural resistance, and legacy-building, with the BWP Conference as a cornerstone of its mission to uplift and protect the work of Black women in photography.