Organizer Information
The program is run by Photographic Center Northwest (PCNW), a nonprofit photography center based in Seattle, Washington, USA. PCNW supports photography through exhibitions, educational programs, and community engagement, with a commitment to using photographic practice for social justice, equity, environmental awareness, visual literacy, and cross-cultural communication. The “Agent for Change” series is one of PCNW’s ongoing initiatives to foster socially engaged photography.
Title & Description
Photography as an Agent for Change 2026 – Call for Workshop Proposals
This open call invites photographers, educators, collectives or organizations to propose curriculum for workshops that consider photography as a tool for social change. The aim is to develop workshops that promote racial equity, social justice, environmental justice, visual literacy, creative practice, storytelling, and cross-cultural communication. PCNW aims to deliver 3–5 workshops during 2026, open and free to a broad and diverse public. Workshops may be held online or in-person, and proposals that reimagine teaching beyond conventional classroom formats are especially encouraged (e.g., community-based, interactive, hybrid, accessible formats).
Categories
- Photography
- Visual Art
- Social / Documentary Photography
- Visual Literacy / Media Literacy
- Education & Community Arts
Eligibility
- Proposals may be submitted by individuals, teaching teams, organizations, or collectives.
- No restriction on nationality; international applicants are potentially welcome (depending on logistics).
- PCNW encourages applications from underrepresented communities: Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian (BBIA); and LGBTQIA+ individuals are especially encouraged.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Chosen workshop creators will receive $60/hour for their teaching hours.
- Additionally, accepted applicants receive prep-time compensation (5 hours per workshop in 2026).
- PCNW handles marketing, registration, classroom booking (if in-person), and general administrative tasks — reducing logistical burden on instructors.
- Workshops will be free and accessible to all participants (i.e., no participant fee), with the aim of reaching a broad and diverse audience.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Letter of interest (or statement of intent)
- Résumé / CV of instructor(s) or team
- Curriculum outline: including format (in-person / online), number/length of sessions, intended audience, student size, learning objectives, workshop structure (lecture, interactive, homework/practice), and any proposed guest lecturers or co-facilitators.
- Brief description of how the proposed workshop uses photography as a tool for change (social justice, environmental justice, visual literacy, cultural dialogue, etc.)
How to Apply?
Submit your proposal by emailing the required materials to: education@pcnw.org.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 8 December 2025
- Program (Workshop) Period: Between April and November 2026, for selected 3–5 workshops.
Location
Seattle, WA, United States
Additional Details
- The intention of the series is to reach a broad and diverse audience, making workshops free and open to all.
- Workshop formats are flexible: hybrid, in-person, online, and are encouraged to think “beyond traditional classroom walls.” This may include community-based workshops, interactive storytelling, collaborative projects, etc.
- If the workshop involves darkroom, studio, or other specialized facilities, in-person workshops may be capped (in past years) at small group sizes (e.g., 12 students) to ensure quality.
- While not explicitly stated, travel or accommodation for instructors likely is not covered, especially for those coming from out-of-state or abroad, so proposers should account for that. (Based on previous years, where costs for travel/accommodation were mentioned as not covered.)