Article - Interview
Fiona Rogers discusses her new venture Firecracker, an online platform dedicated to supporting European women photographers
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- Interview by Emily Graham
CEWhat is Firecracker and what inspired you to set it up?
FRFirecracker is an online platform dedicated to promoting the work of female photographers. I set it up in early 2011 as a response to what I considered to be a market dominated by male photographers. I wanted an opportunity to connect great photographers with the key industry professionals I’ve been privileged to meet and work with during my years at Magnum.
CEWhat kind of work do you feature or hope to feature on Firecracker?
FRI accept submissions from various styles but with a background in documentary practice, this is what I’m mostly interested in seeing.
CEWhy do you feel there needs to be a platform focused solely on female photographers?
FRI’ve been working in photography for the past 7 years and the under-representation of women photographers struck me on several levels. Whilst there seems to me to be an abundance of women studying photography, it appears the majority leave education and take on administrational, organisational, or nurturing roles within the visual arts. This is really just a personal experience and a reflection of how my own career has developed since leaving my photography degree at Farnham, although it also seems to be replicated in many of the clients and colleagues I’ve met during my working life.
CETell us a little about some of the artists/photographers you’ve already featured…
FRI’m privileged to say the website has attracted the attention of some very key female photographers, starting with Tessa Bunney whom I met in 2007. It’s also featured VII photographer Anastasia Taylor-Lind (selected by Hannah Watson, Director of Trolley Books), Leonie Hampton, Laura Hynd, Polly Braden, Dana Popa and Jane Hilton. The website is scheduled with great photographers until early 2012 so keep posted!
CEWhat does the future hold for Firecracker?
FRIn the future I’d very much like to create an annual bursary or award to support the completion of a project, exhibition or book, but in the short term I’m happy simply putting great work in front of a wider audience. I’ll be hosting an event with Roof Unit in October with Scottish photographer Sophie Gerrard.
About Fiona Rogers
Rogers currently works at Magnum Photos London as the Cultural & Education Co-ordinator, a position she has held since 2005. Prior to that she was employed at a popular London gallery and studied BA Arts & Media at the University for the Creative Arts in Surrey. She holds a postgraduate certificate from the London College of Communication in Creative Enterprise Management.
Contact were asked to select a photographer to be featured in the August edition of Firecracker, for which we put forward Mona Simon. You can view Mona Simon’s edition print here.
Rogers says of Mona’s work: “I was struck by the contemplative and personal storytelling of her work and was delighted when coincidentally Contact Editions chose her for their August slot.”
Next deadline for submissions: 31st January 2012
Contact is taking submissions from photographers. We want the work we showcase to remain fresh and exciting, so we are constantly looking for new contributors; whether student, graduate, emerging or established. We will review submissions once every 6 months to select the very best new work. Get in contact.
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