CONVERGING PERSPECTIVES presents contemporary photography, its practitioners and innovative exhibitions from an international perspective. Absent the presumption of the primacy of Western culture, the blog offers an alternative frame of reference, thus providing an in-depth look at a rapidly shifting landscape informed by a composite of cross-cultural influences.

Featuring timely, critical and in-depth writings that focus specifically on contemporary photographic practices often considered outside the mainstream, CONVERGING PERSPECTIVES offers viewpoints that reflect the increasing globalization of art and culture and its influence on a collective cultural identity. Beyond reacting to pluralism solely by emphasizing the “other,” the blog serves as a platform for identifying and documenting issues, trends and perspectives informed by contemporary photographic practices that acknowledge the breadth of histories worldwide.

Demographic shifts have begun altering the complexion and social fabric of a number of Western countries. In the U.S., long considered the cultural capital of the world, just under half the population will be non-white by 2045. However, while non-whites already represent a third of the population, Whites make up 91 percent of museum visitors, 80 percent of museum staffs, and are represented in over 90 percent of museum and gallery exhibitions. Correspondingly, photography festivals and portfolio reviews mainly feature White speakers and artists. If photography is to remain relevant in the face of this shifting population, who is responsible for changing the status quo?

CONVERGING PERSPECTIVES provides an international forum for disseminating ideas, for advocating critical engagement, and for promoting art projects that address the challenges facing contemporary photographic practices.

CONVERGING PERSPECTIVES is an online initiative by Hannah Frieser and Charles Guice. After a period of offering one-on-one, short-term and multi-year mentoring, lectures, and essay writing, the platform will be relaunched with critical writing and programming in 2023.