The Missouri Photo Workshop archive comprises one of the greatest collections
of photographs of rural America and resides at the Missouri School of Journalism.
Thousands of images spanning over seven decades show the changing scene in the
heartland. From the Ozark Plateau, the riverbanks of the Missouri and Mississippi,
the famous Bootheel in the southeast and the drier plains of the north,
Missouri itself represents the varied geographical aspects of the Heartland.
Rural Missouri is full of residents with a tough resolve, community pride,
pure stubbornness, and love for small towns. Some remain despite hard times
because they want to; others have no other choice. They all have unique stories
that add to the fabric of their community and the depth of the MPW archive.
In the beginning of the 20th century, most rural Missouri towns were at
their strongest. The small economic centers supported local farms and businesses.
The towns grew. But the overarching trend since then has been a slow population loss.
This is their story, told for more than 70 years, through the framework of
more than 50 different towns. Each year, forty photographers come to a town
in Missouri to tell a community’s story.
You may feel called to participate in this immersive visual storytelling workshop.
The online application portal opens in the Spring. Selections are made in the Summer.
The workshop is the last full week in September.
If you are an MPW alumni, or simply value the Missouri Photo Workshop for its
adherence to in depth and ethical storytelling, we are always appreciative of
your support. The MPW Endowment
is a great way to help.
For more information, please contact
workshop director Brian Kratzer.
If you like what you’ve read above, then apply to be part of the longest-running documentary photojournalism workshop. This experience is deeply personal and immersive. Your faculty teams will guide you through the slow process of building relationships while holding a camera.
Photographers of all experience levels should apply. The faculty meet you where you are in your career and lift you up. Naturally, you should be open to growth. Expect to be pushed out of your comfort zone. The week culminates in a public photo exhibit featuring the 40 photo stories.
View picture stories from MPW.74.
Recent Posts
Meet Me in Excelsior Springs
A glimpse into the process of the 74th Missouri Photo Workshop. Narrated by David Rees and Alyssa Schukar.
Well Wishes
Five photographers visit a magical wishing well and cast their aspirations for the week.
Ghostly Visions
nspired by the ghosts and spirits that play a role in the Excelsior Springs experience, photographers reveal their own horror stories.
The Missouri Photo Workshop has been documenting small town America for over seven decades. Learn about the history of the workshop and the philosophy of its founder Cliff Edom, the father of photojournalism.
See where in Missouri the workshop has traveled to before and explore images and stories from the past 74 years of documenting community.
Explore over 70 multimedia works produced at the Missouri Photo Workshop, examining the art of storytelling, Missouri life, and the workshop itself.
