This event takes place during Free Third Thursday—event admission and museum admission (from 5–8 PM) are both free!
Join us for the next installment of the ICP PhotoSLAM series! During this fast-paced, open mic event, photographers, the ICP community, and audience members are invited to compete in a live story telling competition, driven by photographs.
Come to join the program as a visual storyteller or to enjoy the stories as part of the audience judging panel. Our returning host for the ICP Photo SLAM is Idris Talib Solomon.
The winning photography story will receive:
- A year individual member to ICP which includes free access to the museum ($75 value!)
- And an ICP Swag Bag!
The theme for this ICP PhotoSLAM is “Spectacle," inspired by current exhibition Weegee: Society of Spectacle. This event takes places during Free Third Thursday—admission to ICP's museum during this time is free between 5–8 PM.
How it works:
5:15 – 5:45 PM | Library
If you want to tell your story based on the theme, register in advance or arrive between 5:15–5:45 PM on the day of event to submit your name and images in person.
Registering in advance is strongly recommended. Register as a participant to reserve a spot for the chance to share your images and tell your story with ICP's audience here.
Participants can also arrive between the submission time to enter your name for a chance to take the stage that evening. Come prepared to digitally share the images you will use in your story, if selected. ICP recommends preparing 10-15 images on a USB drive and/or on a file-sharing digital link.
5:55 PM | Library
Up to six names will be blindly selected. If selected, each photographer must have their images ready to share via a digital link or USB drive immediately. Failure to produce your images will result in loss of your time-slot.
6:00 PM | Library
The competition begins! Each selected storyteller will take the stage for exactly 5 minutes.
After each performance the audience will vote in teams. At the end of the evening, a new PhotoSLAM winner will be crowned!
Community Guidelines
ICP does not control the content or know what stories will be shared on stage ahead of the event.
All participants will be asked to sign a community agreement prior to taking the stage. If in violation of our community guidelines, performers will be stopped and disqualified.
Viewer discretion is advised.
Tips for Photo Storytellers
The theme for each PhotoSLAM is open to interpretation of the participants but your photography series and story should relate to the theme or themes. We recommend letting the images drive the story and practicing your 5-minute story ahead of the PhotoSLAM.
There will be a short amount of time to digitally transfer images to the program laptop. For upload time purposes, we suggest preparing 8-15 images to use with your story.
Please have a link you can share via email or bring your images on an USB- jumpdrive or an external drive.
Images will be uploaded to ICP’s computer and will be projected behind the storyteller during their 5-minute slot.
The photographs will be projected during the stories and a clicker will be given to the storyteller to advance each image. We cannot guarantee the ability to set images to change automatically.
About the Host
Idris Talib Solomon is a native of Brooklyn, using the camera to illuminate the extraordinary treasures nestled within Black communities. It is his aim to share the profound narratives, vibrant cultures, and the beauty that grace their everyday lives.
Third Thursdays at ICP
On these special evenings, the third Thursday of each month from 5–8 PM, we welcome our community into the museum for no cost. Free Third Thursdays further ICP's dedication to expanding access to see important exhibitions and experience a robust range of programming. We look forward to welcoming you to our space to connect with ICP's community and learn more about the history and future of imagemaking.
Third Thursdays are made possible thanks to an expanded partnership with MPB, the largest online platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear.
About Third Thursdays Sponsor MPB
MPB transforms the way that people buy, sell and trade photo and video gear. As the largest global platform for used photography and videography equipment, MPB is a destination for everyone, whether you’ve just discovered your passion for visual storytelling or you’re already a pro.
Founded by Matt Barker in 2011, MPB has always been committed to making gear more accessible and affordable, and helping to visualize a more sustainable future. MPB recirculates more than 485,000 used products every year, extending the life and creative potential of photo and video equipment for creators around the world.
Headquartered in the creative communities of Brooklyn, Brighton and Berlin, the MPB team includes trained camera experts and seasoned photographers and videographers who bring their passion to work every day to deliver outstanding service.
