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Shannon Taggart became aware of Spiritualism as a teenager, when her cousin received a message from a medium that revealed details about her grandfather's death. In 2001, while working as a photographer, she began taking pictures where that message was received - Lily Dale, New York, home to the world's largest Spiritualist community - proceeding to other such communities as England’s Arthur Findlay College. Taggart expected to spend one summer figuring out the tricks of the Spiritualist trade. Instead, Spiritualism’s mysterious processes, earnest practitioners, and neglected photographic history became an inspiration. Her project evolved into an eighteen-year journey that has taken her around the world in search of ‘ectoplasm’—the elusive substance that is said to be both spiritual and material.

In this talk, Taggart introduces her project and the resulting book, Séance, which offers haunting images exploring Spiritualist practices in the US and Europe in conjunction with rare historical photographs. Séance examines Spiritualism’s relationship with human celebrity, its connections to art, science, and technology, and its intrinsic bond with the medium of photography.

Séance: Artist talk
Shannon Taggart
2 September 2026, 1830 (BST)
University of Brighton, Sallis Benney Theatre, Brighton, BN2 0JY
See: https://www.ticketsource.com/centre-for-design-history-university-of-brighton/seance-artist-talk-by-shannon-taggart/2026-09-02/18:30/t-ldxkqqr

In her extensive work bridging photography and archival research, Dr Julia Winckler has witnessed the power of photography to connect people, to inspire a sense of validation, of feeling seen and valued and heard. That their story matters. That they matter. In this lecture, sharing examples from her own practice, Dr. Winckler will explore the creative mechanisms involved in making memory visible through photography. Through encounters, conversations, and the physical retracing of journeys, new work is made on location, creating a dialogue across time between new images and originals.

Julia Winckler is a photographer, writer, curator and Principal Lecturer at the University of Brighton's School of Art and Media, where she teaches on MA Photography and MA Fine Art and supervises PhD research. 

Making Memory Visible Through Photography
Dr Julie Winckler
7 May 2026
Brighton and online
Details and registration: https://www.gresham.ac.uk/whats-on/making-memory

Image: Julie Winckler

Photographic collections are found in libraries, archives and museums all over the world. Their sensitivity to environmental conditions, and the speed with which images can deteriorate present special challenges. This one day training session is led by Susie Clark, accredited photographic conservator. It is aimed at those with responsibility for the care of photographic collections regardless of institutional context.

The day provides an introduction to understanding and identifying photographic processes and their vulnerability, information on common conservation problems and solutions, and the preservation measures that can be taken to prolong the life and accessibility of photographic collections. Contact with real examples of different photographic processes is an important feature of this training session which is therefore limited to only 16 places. At the end of the day participants will be able to:

• identify historic photographic processes
• explain how damage is caused
• implement appropriate preservation measures
• commission conservation work.

Feedback from previous participants

• I learned how to store photographic material, how to identify different photographic processes and techniques to preserve photographic stock.
• Very worthwhile due to practical nature of the training day. I am able to leave here today confident that we can improve and upgrade basic preservation solutions, particularly storage, based on information learned about photographic processes and supports.
• I will review our approach to preserving photographic collections, upgrade storage media, and survey collections to identify preservation priorities.

Programme

Preservation Advisory Centre Training Day

Friday 20 May 2011

British Library Centre for Conservation
96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB
 

Click below for details of the event:

http://www.bl.uk/blpac/photographic.html

http://britishphotohistory.ning.com/events/preserving-historic

Monday 8th November will be a dark and creepy evening at the John Rylands Library, Manchester, as Professor Heard, the world’s finest Phantasmagoria Magic Lantern Projectionist, will be performing a show in the library.

There will be 2 performances, a family friendly show at 4.30 – 5pm, then at 7.30 – 9pm an evening event where things get a bit more sinister and spooky!

ALL WELCOME, the event is free, however booking is essential! call 0161 06 0555 to reserve yourself a free seat or email jrul.events@manchester.ac.uk at the John Rylands Library, 150 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3EH.