Our Festival Story

Photo: Douglas Johnston

The Festival Story

Established in 2018 in celebration of Scotland’s Year of Young People, our festival is now in its 7th year and is now established as an annual event in Scotland’s photography calendar. Run by a team of passionate volunteers, we have developed strong relationships across our community and have twice been nominated for and finalists in the Stirling Go Forth Business Improvement District Awards - Outstanding Contribution to the City. We are supporting home grown talent to achieve their creative potential by partnering with some of the newest and finest photographers from Stirling, Scotland and further.

Our festival features inclusive, free to attend workshops,exhibitions and talks. We are proud to have worked with and exhibited some of Scotland’s renowned contemporary artists, including Alex Boyd, David Eustace, Kierian Dodds, Frank McElhinney, Frances Scott, Kim Simpson, Leeming + Paterson, Coulson &Tennant, Scott Hunter and Margaret Mitchell as well as international artists including Helene Schmitz of Sweden, Mihai Moiceanu of Romania and Michael Carroll of America.

We work with some of Stirling’s leading creative and cultural organisations who host our events in the city’s most prestigious venues including the Barracks Conference Centre, the University of Stirling, the Tolbooth theatre, Historic Environment Scotland’s Engine Shed and The Smith Art Gallery and Museum. We also pop up in community spaces and work with other artists, groups and charities supporting good causes, like Equi-Power, Riding for the Disabled and Argaty Red Kites, a local conservation organisation committed to wildlife protection and rewilding.

Photo: Anne Sproul

Our vision

To build an inclusive community through photography.

Photo: Anne Sproul

Our mission

Our mission is to establish Stirling Photography Festival as an annual event in Scotland’s events calendar, championing photography as a medium and supporting artists of all abilities through an inclusive and accessible programme.

Our Aims

Build Community

Community built through shared passions, partnership and networks.

Foster Creativity

Creativity fostered through inspiring and innovitive programming.

Develop Skills

Skills developed through taking part in workshops and exhibitions.

Do more than just click

Photo: Gregor Boyd