2018: Our Place
Header photograph by Anne Sproul.
Where it all started.
In 2018 we ran the first Stirling Photography Festival, with 14 free-to-access events, from photo walks and talks, to workshops and studio visits. Set over 9 days, the festival events attracted over 250 people from across the UK.
Ending our 2018 Stirling Youth Photography Festival was the ‘Our Place’ photography exhibition. How appropriate it was that the festival was sponsored by the European Championships 2018 Cultural Fund, as following an open call we received submissions from across Scotland and Europe, including entries from France and from Germany!
The young Creative Team had the fun – but difficult task – of selecting the pieces for the exhibition,supported by creative director at Nettl, Alan Gunning and one of our festival speakers, photographer John Patton.
Working in partnership with local businesses and cultural organisations, we curated an exhibition trail linking venues across the city, including at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Loving Food, the Tolbooth, Nettl of Stirling, Made in Stirling, Sable and Flea, the Friars’ Wynd Hotel, the Engine Shed and with ‘pop-up’ exhibitions in the Thistles and at the Macrobert Arts Centre.
The production of exhibition pieces was generously sponsored by Nettl of Stirling and Loxley Colour. Following the exhibition, artists kindly donated to our nominated local Charity, the Patrons of Cowane’s Hospital Trust, in return for keeping their original piece. Some artists donated their exhibition photographs to the charity and these are being exhibited at Made in Stirling and can be yours for a donation to the Trust.
Photograph of Stirling by Paul Reynolds.
What People Said
“As a contributor to the Stirling Photo Festival I found the event to be inspiring and encouraging to young people and a few of the older adults that came along too. I think there is so much that can be build on the event if it comes back as a yearly event. After nearly 30 years in the photographic industry It is still nice to see photography still can make a mark and inspire people.”
— Martin Shields, Professional Commercial Photographer
“[...] for me the festival drew in many photography enthusiasts from outside the area, as well as showing Stirling as a progressive and creative area to visit I am unaware of anything like this festival anywhere else in the central Scotland area, the resulting images shown at the exhibition is also good positive promotion of the Stirling area showing not only the landscape but the people, and their way of life with street photography, the talent with the musician shoot, [...] I look forward to next year’s festival, and hope to get involved myself“
— Tim Shaw, workshop participant and exhibitor
