Symposium: Picturing The Unseen – Grief & labour in and out of motherhood

Thu 12 September | 10am – 5.30pm

Join us for a symposium addressing experiences of (m)otherhood including; struggling to conceive, infertility, being childless not by choice, maternal grief and caring for chronically ill children.

Held in the context of the major exhibition Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood, this day-long event will feature presentations by artists, writers and art historians sharing their research and personal work around these subjects. This event is open to all.

This event is being programmed by Hettie Judah, Melanie Stidolph and Sally Butcher, and forms part of the wider programme of public events accompanying the Acts of Creation exhibition.

Unfortunately, due to the delicate nature of the themes being discussed and being sensitive towards our attendees in creating a supportive space, we would ask that no children be present at the Symposium.

Image: © Su Richardson. Photographer: Tegen Kimbley

The full programme will be released closer to the date of the symposium.

• Hosted by Hettie Judah
• Keynote by Elina Brotherus
• Panel presentations by Helen Acklam, Sally Butcher, Jessa Fairbrother, Sofie Layton, Yvonne John and Melanie Stidolph
• Film screenings by El Morgan, Trish Morrissey, Holly Slingsby
• Closing by Pragya Agarwal

We are inviting visual artists and poets to volunteer to deliver an engaging 5-minute Pecha Kucha-style presentation about their work related to the themes of the symposium. Proposal Deadline: 15 July 2024.

This Symposium will be followed by Acts of Creation: Artists Panel Discussion.