British photography gets showcase
A new Centre for British Photography is to open in London in January, and a fund-raising print sale to support it is launched today.
“The Centre for British Photography is for anyone with an interest in photography” said founding director James Hyman. “Photography in Britain is some of the best in the world and we want to give it more exposure and support. With this new physical space, alive with exhibitions and events, we hope to create a hub that increases British photography’s national and international status. We hope in the long run to develop an independent centre. The print sale will help us to create a self-sustaining dedicated National Collection and public programme.”
The centre is built on the Hyman Collection of British photography, which has over 3,000 works by more than 100 artists including Bill Brandt, Bert Hardy, Daniel Meadows, Jo Spence, Karen Knorr, Anna Fox and Heather Agyepong, and the work of the Hyman Foundation. Three floors of exhibitions will present the diverse landscape of British photography today, as well as an historical overview.
The sale features the work of Julia Fullerton-Batten, David Hurn, Karen Knorr and Martin Parr among others, the A4 prints priced at £70 will be available to buy until December 19 at www.britishphotography.org. Funds from the sale will also be used to support emerging British photographers.
Admission to the 8000 sq ft centre will be free and will feature photographs from 1900 to the present, work by photographers living and working in the UK today, and will present self-generated exhibitions and those led by independent curators and organisations, as well as monographic displays. The Centre plans bring together the photographic community - professional and amateur - through a talks and events programme. Regional museums, galleries and photography collectives will also be invited to use the space to present exhibitions and collaborate on talks and events.