Whether recently created or long-established actors of the cultural scene, artists' associations and unions play essential but sometimes little-known roles in service of artists and photographers, particularly in networking and defending the interests of cultural actors. This talk brings together representatives from four major organisations active in Switzerland and Geneva to address issues such as: which are the main associations in Switzerland which bring together and represent artists and photographers? What are their roles and how have they evolved in recent years? What benefits do their members and derive from them?

With Ann Griffin (near), Zoé Aubry (Visarte Genève), Olga Bushkova (pool collective), Anja Wurm (SIYU) and Danaé Panchaud (CPG).

‘We need to talk…’ is a series of public talks proposed by the Centre de la photographie Genève since 2022, addressed primarily to artists, photographers and students in these disciplines. Professionals from different fields related to art and photography are invited to share their expertise and professional experience, and to discuss the specificities of their practice. With these talks, the Centre de la photographie Genève intends to demystify certain professions, encourage good practices, and support artists and photographers in important processes related to their profession, which remain largely unaddressed in art and photography schools.

Image: launch party for the new identity of the NEAR association, Zurich, 2024 (image Anna-Tia Buss)