2025 SPE West Chapter Conference
UCR ARTS California Museum of Photography
UCR ARTS - Riverside, California |
November 06 - November 08, 2025
Registration is now open, and the full schedule for the 2025 SPE West Chapter Conference is live.
Join us this November at the California Museum of Photography at UCR ARTS in downtown Riverside, California.
This three-day gathering will unite educators, students, artists, and researchers for a weekend of connection, creativity, and critical dialogue exploring the future of photographic education and imagemaking. Browse the complete schedule and speaker lineup to start planning your conference experience today.
Thursday, November 6 — High School Educators Day
The conference opens with programming designed exclusively for high school educators, featuring hands-on workshops, CTE-focused sessions, and opportunities to engage with educational vendors. This day supports and empowers teachers shaping the next generation of image-makers.
Host Site: Riverside Unified School District — 4011 14th St., Riverside, CA
Preconference Programming
Beyond the core sessions, attendees can explore several preconference experiences:
Radical Geographies at the Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art Curator Walkthrough with Tamara Cedré at 12:30 PM (gallery open 11 AM – 4 PM)
CMP Archives Preview The California Museum of Photography will open its archives exclusively for conference guests from 4 PM – 6 PM. Advance reservations will be required; additional details will be shared soon.
The day concludes with an Opening Reception (6:30–8:30 PM) at UCR ARTS, featuring the SPE West Exhibition in the f-stop pedestrian gallery and a Portfolio Walkthrough during Riverside Artswalk.
Friday, November 7 — Pedagogy for Educators
Day two centers on teaching practices, pragmatic scholarship, and imagemaker presentations. Designed for educators at all levels, these sessions explore innovative approaches to photography instruction, curriculum development, and classroom engagement — equipping attendees with practical tools and fresh inspiration.
Saturday, November 8 — Imagemaker and Research Presentations
The final day celebrates photography's evolving landscape through talks by imagemakers, workshops, and research presentations. The program culminates in a keynote session honoring photography as a living medium — one that reflects shared experiences, challenges, and creative visions.
Don't miss your chance to be part of this dynamic regional gathering of image-makers, educators, and scholars.
Registration & Pricing
Conference registration includes:
Access to all sessions, panels, and workshops
Thursday evening Opening Reception
Breakfast
Morning and afternoon coffee
Catered lunch
Pricing:
Members: $350
Non-Members: $500 (includes one-year SPE membership)
Students (Members and Non-Members): $175
We encourage you to register early so we can finalize programming, secure facilities, and confirm catering for all attendees.
Register online at www.spewest.org/register or request an invoice for check payment by emailing west@spenational.org.
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