Covid-19 – WPS Programme changes and suspensions
WPS Planning for Covid-19 – as at 15th March
Summary
WPS exists to provide for the photographic interests of its members – but the committee is mindful of the risks that the current situation poses to the membership, particularly recognizing the Society’s demographic. The situation is evolving rapidly, and advice from government is also changing – we will not debate the wisdom or rationale for that advice.
We have to take some difficult decisions to balance our two duties: duty of care and obligation to provide photographic events. The primacy of care for members should be obvious. We believe there are some actions that will impact our photographic activities but will mitigate health risks for members.
Where possible we will seek alternative photographic activities for members.
The season at the DC and other indoor venues is cancelled until further notice.
Several members have expressed their understandable intention to self-exclude in any case. Measures to isolate/protect those over 70-years of age, and/or the vulnerable will have a further impact.
No more meetings will be held at the DC or our other indoor venues until we believe it is safe to resume them. This is likely to be until at least the Exhibition opening night or the AGM (this will be reviewed). Where possible, we will examine the possibility of events being carried over to the following season.
This week’s Society Competition Evening (Tues 17 March) will be deferred
This will take place later as PDI only – judging will be by a conferencing platform online and members will be invited to submit their print images as PDIs. This will allow us to award the trophies. A delay (to be discussed) will allow us to test the systems and gather the PDIs of the print images. With the system we envisage, members will be able to see each image and hear the judge’s comments and view the winners.
Subsequent Competition Evenings will be judged and viewed online.
All competitions will be PDI, as outlined above. Those that were intended to be prints will have the scores counted in the print league.
The WPS 2020 Print Exhibition is cancelled
(updated 24 March 2020)
The WPS 2020 Print Exhibition will not take place as a Print Exhibition.
We are looking into the possibility of, exceptionally, replacing it with a virtual exhibition akin to the Winchester National Exhibition. See WPS Newsflash – Annual Print Exhibition 2020.
An alternative programme of activities will be formulated
This might include photo’ walks (not possible after 23 March announcements). A photographic Presidential Challenge will be set. Conferencing or presentation facilities online will be explored.
Once we have identified and formulated our plans to run a limited programme online, we will, of course, inform members. We are currently investigating and testing alternative systems.
Gavin Bowyer MA ARPS
WPS President (on behalf of WPS Committee)
15th March 2020
