On behalf of our team and trustees I would like to thank you all for the incredible support and enthusiasm that you have shown us this year. It has been a very special year here at the Centre for British Photography and an amazing spring-board for our ambitious plans for the future.
Since January we have staged eighteen exhibitions (all free of charge); exhibited more than eighty British-based photographers; held Open Calls attracting over 1,000 submissions; hosted many talks, workshops and film screenings; attracted over 70,000 visitors and received more than 150 articles in the national and international press. We have also just launched our first programme of grants for photographers and artists working in photography and we have exciting plans for new collaborations in 2024.
Our aim in creating the Centre for British Photography (registered charity number 1190955) was to provide a place for exhibitions and events, as well as to serve as a welcoming and supportive hub for photographers. We have been delighted by the response.
As we explained from the outset, Jermyn Street was a temporary space – a proof of concept – after which our plan was to move to a permanent home. For much of this year our trustees have been working on securing our permanent home and on fundraising for this. This has become more urgent than we had anticipated as the landlords have advanced their plans to develop the site in Jermyn Street and have given us notice to leave in January. This is incredibly disappointing. However, it has not changed our plans. It has simply accelerated our schedule.
Here in the UK, there are wonderful existing institutions that support photography. We also believe that our dedicated mission to support photographic practices in Britain – in all its diversity – is novel, different and necessary. At this important moment, as we build on our incredible year and make our vision a reality, we invite those of you who share this vision to support us and help us raise the increased funding that is now required to make this dream of a permanent home a reality.
If you wish to support us, donations can be made through our website on the link below:
In the new year we will make further announcements about our future plans and will reveal the winners of our first grants programme.
We wish you all a happy holiday season and a good 2024.
James Hyman
Founding Director and Trustee