2027 SPE Annual Conference: Community in Contrast
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print this pageHighlighting Innovation: NOVA24 | Photo + Film Festival
Mara Magyarosi-Laytner, Raymar, Tryst Red
Saturday, October 17 - 10:30AM to 12:00PM
Hopkins 250
"How can we put Detroit and our vibrant lens-based community on the map?"
That was the question that Mara Magyarosi-Laytner and Raymar repeatedly asked themselves in 2022. Coming off of repeated frustrations about the state of the photographic community, exhibition and gallery opportunities, and a lack of notice for innovative and experimental work, they decided to start something brand new for the city of Detroit: NOVA24 | Photo + Film Festival.
This festival started from a small exhibition of seven artists at The Congregation in Detroit during Detroit Month of Design and has expanded to over 50 events during the 2026 festival. In the three years of the festival, over 200 artists have been featured from twenty-five different states and eight different countries. Working with multiple collaborators across the city in a range of indoor and outdoor locations, the events include exhibitions, artist talks, film screenings, photo walks, community meetups, panel discussions, projection galleries, filmmaker karaoke, a portfolio throwdown, technique workshops, the Getting Your Work Out There workshop series, and more.
This discussion, featuring co-founders Mara Magyarosi-Laytner and Raymar alongside executive board member Tryst Red, will highlight the history of the festival and the momentum after the third year of NOVA24. It will also highlight how community based programming is more attainable than expected, and how to consider starting photo and film based events in other communities.
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