West Chapter Conference Overview

2025 SPE West Chapter Conference

When November 06-08, 2025
Where UCR ARTS, Riverside, California
Keynote Speaker Fariba Hajamadi
Featured Speakers Tamara Cedré, Marcus Doyle, Christophe Katrib, C. Matthew Luther, Christine Lee Smith, Andrew K. Thompson

register my schedule

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.