We are delighted to announce that the International Summer School of Photography (and Analogue Film!) will happen this year! The united ISSP and Baltic Analog Lab Summer School will take place from 2 to 9 August 2020 in Cēsis, at the Rucka Art Residency Centre. Under the theme NATURAL PHENOMENA, the summer camp will explore the fascinating natural world and its creatures around us. More information and call for applications coming soon! 

International Summer School of Photography
13th edition: Photography and the World
​12 – 20 July 2019
Zaļenieki Manor, Jelgava district, Latvia

After 12 years of existence, the International Summer School of Photography is shifting towards a thematic focus and greater interdisciplinary engagement. The first thematic edition, ISSP 2019, “PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE WORLD”, looked at photography as a possible tool for positive change, with reference to global issues the world is facing today. From climate change to the crisis of liberal democracy, the huge shifts we are currently undergoing combine to create a sense of urgency and desire for action. What is the role of photography in this? The focus of the programme was be on reflection and discussion, imagining, creating and trying out possibilities. The six workshops explore the position of photography in relation to political activism, ecology/environment, community engagement, and the ritual. The event was designed as a horizontal learning experience involving not only photographers and visual artists, but also activists and experts from other fields, who contributed to the discussion with their diverse perspectives.

Together, the participants looked beyond the sometimes insular bubble of the photography and art world, and tried to answer questions like - What role can art/ photography play in relation to the events and processes happening in the world? What are the ways art can contribute to the societies we live in? What is the role of the photographer – as a professional, an activist, a member of the community, a responsible human being?

ISSP 2019 concluded with a day-long open conference containing elements of a pop-up exhibition, a performance, a manifest, as well as a publication that was produced on the campus.  

See more in Workshops, Programme , as well as Facebook gallery of the event.

What is ISSP ?
The International Summer School of Photography (ISSP) is an immersive education and networking event for emerging photographers from around the world, taking place in the deep Latvian countryside annually since 2006. The ISSP has traditionally offered 6 advanced masterclasses by renowned international tutors in combination with an exciting programme of evening talks and presentations, portfolio reviews, and a resulting exhibition of created work. The participants, tutors, experts and the team come from over 30 countries all around the world. 72 participants are selected via an open call based on portfolios. Over the years, we have cooperated with excellent artists and experts such as Jim Goldberg, Alessandra Sanguinetti, Takashi Homma, Jason Fulford, Lisa Barnard, Anna Fox, Alexander Gronsky, Peter Bialobrzeski, Vanessa Winship, George Georgiou, Roger Ballen, Yuri Kozirev, Michael Ackerman, Marcos Lopez, Claudine Doury, Arno Rafael Minkkinen, David Bate, Jodi Bieber, Phil Toledano, Hellen van Meene, Christian Caujolle, Bas Vroege, Hans van der Meer, Todd Hido, Elina Brotherus, Simon Norfolk, Rafal Milach and others. ISSP regularly partners with international photograpy media such as YET Magazine, GUP Magazine, FK Magazine, The Calvert Journal, Photographic Museum of Humanity, and others.  

For information on previous editions, see here 

Participants' feedback 2018