The PhotoMidwest 2024 festival weekend on Sept. 27-28 will spotlight Midwest photographers, with free artist talks and book signings at the Arts + Literature Laboratory in downtown Madison.
“Madison has a film festival, a science festival, a book festival. It really should have a photography festival,” organizer and FlakPhoto director Andy Adams says.
Madison-based community photography organization PhotoMidwest has hosted their biennial exhibition since 2000. While the exhibition is the centerpiece of the festival, this year’s celebration offers additional exhibitions, as well as a speaker and documentary series.
The expansion of the festival reflects the local demand for events that center photography. When Adams — who grew up in Jefferson, WI — held his first photo exhibition at Madison Public Library a decade ago, he was surprised when 450 people filed into the opening ceremony. He realized many Madisonians are interested in photography despite the city’s significant gap in programming dedicated to the craft. He hopes the upcoming festival (a collaboration between PhotoMidwest, FlakPhoto and Art Lit Lab) will encourage future photography events.