About Photoworks
We are a visual arts organisation based in Brighton, England. We commission new photography projects, produce exhibitions and publications, and initiate research and education programmes.
In all our activities collaboration is an important principle. We work closely with photographers, artists, curators and writers, and form partnerships with other organisations both within and outside the arts.
You might find a Photoworks project in a gallery, a factory, an historic building or a library. We might work with a particular landscape, in a seaside town or a rural village.
Reflecting the diverse culture and geography of the south east region, our work aims to engage with a wide range of interests and experiences, making contemporary photography accessible and relevant to everyone.
Following the closure of Morris Newcombe's photographic gallery in St Leonards On Sea, a new organisation, the Cross-Channel Photographic Mission (CCPM), was established in 1987 by Kent County Council and South East Arts. In the early years, under the direction of Leo Stable, the focus was upon the coastal region and the building of the Channel Tunnel, often working in partnership with its French counterpart, La Mission Photographique Transmanche based in the Nord Pas de Calais. The publication, Soundings, produced in 1994 to coincide with the opening of the tunnel and now out of print, documented the work of the organisation.
Once the Channel Tunnel was opened this geographical and philosophical rationale became more attenuated and in July 1996 the organisation was re-named Photoworks and became a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity, under the artistic direction of Ann McNeill, supported by Liz Kent as Projects Manager. A Board of Trustees was set up under the chairmanship of John Gill. The organisation's new mission was to 'commission new photographic work by regional, national and international artists, which embraces the diversity of current photographic practice through exhibitions, publications, research and education'. In 1997, Anne left to direct Photo '98 in Yorkshire and is now Director of Impressions Gallery, York. David Chandler was appointed Director of Photoworks in April 1997. The same year, the office moved to free accommodation at the Kent Institute of Art and Design, Maidstone.
In 1998, Photoworks was awarded its first major lottery grant for two In-Site residencies at Petworth House with Garry Fabian Miller and the Design Council Archive held by the University of Brighton, with Marysia Lewandowska and Neil Cummings. The grant enabled the organisation to significantly expand and further support from the Arts Council of England enabled the employment of a third member of staff. The post of Development Director was offered to Rebecca Drew in 2000 and Laura Thomas was appointed as Information Manager.
The organisation has continued to grow at a rapid rate. In 2002 we appointed Helen James as our Projects Manager for Education and Audience Development and Gordon MacDonald as Projects Manager. A press consultant was also appointed on a freelance basis.
A feasibility study undertaken in 2002 concluded that the organisation would benefit greatly from a move of location to Brighton. Increased funding from the restructured Arts Council made this possible, with the move to our present office taking place in June 2003. The move reflects our increasing ambition to become an organisation with a national presence and has enabled us to expand our remit and to establish a resource area for photographers.
Our annual programmes vary hugely from year to year, dependent on partnerships, funding, and the long periods of development that each project entails. On average, over the past five years, per year we have organised six exhibitions with accompanying participatory events, published five books, and held many portfolio sessions for artists, talks and other public events.
Since moving to Brighton the organisation has continued to rapidly expand. Photoworks were among the key founding partners of the Brighton Photo Biennial, along with the University of Brighton and South East Arts. The inaugural festival in 2003, and the second edition in 2006, generated significant national and international interest. The rich programme of exhibitions and events drew large crowds to the city, confirming Brighton as one of the UK’s leading centres for photography.
In 2003 we also launched our redesigned magazine, Photoworks, as a unique forum for British and international photography and visual culture. Published bi-annually, the magazine has continued to grow, both in terms of distribution and content, and has gained a reputation as one of the leading international photographic journals. In 2004 we launched the first two titles in the Photoworks Monograph series, marking the beginning of a fruitful co-publishing relationship with the German publishers Steidl, significantly increasing the international profile of the organisation.
In 2005 Benedict Burbridge was appointed as full time Projects Assistant and Polly Carter as Education Co-Ordinator, following Helen James’s move to the National Portrait Gallery. In the same year Helen Wade was appointed as Sales and Marketing Manager to oversee the marketing, distribution and advertising sales of Photoworks magazine. We have also developed an internship scheme with the University of Brighton, with up to five interns assisting the organisation at any one time.
Plans for the future include working increasingly with international partners and artists, establishing exhibitions for tour both in the UK and abroad, increasing the international profile of Photoworks magazine and continuing to expand our publishing activities.
Staff
David Chandler
Director
A curator and writer, David Chandler was formerly Assistant Curator of Photography at The National Portrait Gallery, London; Head of Exhibitions at The Photographers’ Gallery, London, and Project Manager at the Institute of International Visual Arts. He has written widely about photography and the visual arts.
David is the Director of Photoworks. He curates our programme of residencies and exhibitions, edits Photoworks publications and overseas the management of the organisation.
Rebecca Drew
Deputy Director
A curator and arts administrator, Rebecca Drew studied Art History and French at the University of Sussex. She lived in Paris for many years before returning to England to study an MA in Art and Critical Theory at KIAD, Canterbury. Curatorial projects include Lightworks by Lukasz Skapski, in collaboration with Stour Valley Arts.
As Deputy Director, Rebecca oversees the strategic development of Photoworks and is responsible for the administration, finance and marketing of the organisation.
Gordon MacDonald
Projects Manager
Editor, Photoworks magazine
A curator and photographer, Gordon MacDonald has exhibited internationally. Gordon also works as part of the duo MacDonaldstrand whose work has been widely published. Recent curatorial projects include It’s Wrong To Wish on Space Hardware at the Gardner Arts Centre in 2002 and The House in the Middle at the Towner Art Gallery in 2004.
Gordon worked as a freelance project manager for Photoworks from 1996 and is now employed full time as Projects Manager. Gordon is also Editor of Photoworks magazine.
Benedict Burbridge
Projects Assistant
Benedict Burbridge graduated in the History of Art in 2003 and was awarded an MA in the History of Art in 2005, both from the University of Sussex. Ben has worked as an intern with the Photography Department at the V&A Museum as well as with Photoworks. Recent freelance projects include Mass Observation at the Centro Cultural Conde Duque, Madrid as part of Photo Espana 2005. He is presently undertaking doctoral research at the Courtauld Institute, London.
Ben is employed part time to assist with the management of Photoworks exhibitions, publications and projects as well as writing regularly for Photoworks magazine.
Helen Wade
Sales and Marketing Manager
Helen Wade was formerly Marketing and Project Co-ordinator at award winning DCMS funded arts website www.24hourmuseum.org.uk, marketing UK museums and galleries. Prior to this she was Head of Sales for the art publishers King and McGaw. Helen graduated from the University of Sussex with a degree in Art History.
Helen works part time and oversees the distribution, marketing and advertising sales of Photoworks magazine, and contributes to the overall marketing of the organisation.
Polly Carter
Education Co-ordinator
Polly Carter graduated from University of Brighton in 2003 with a degree in Visual Culture. She was offered a Photoworks internship in 2004, assisting Gordon MacDonald on the exhibition The House In The Middle. As an arts education freelancer, Polly also runs Armchair Critics, an informal forum for discussion in response to contemporary art exhibitions. She project manages exhibitions and events at the Permanent Gallery, Brighton.
As Education Co-ordinator, Polly works part time overseeing the delivery of our Education and Participation projects. Click here for more information about our current activities.
Jane Noble
Administrator
Jane Noble graduated from De Montfort University in 2004 with a degree in Arts Management. Following her relocation to Brighton in 2005, Jane was Digital Arts & Photography Administrator for the Centre for Visual & Performing Arts at City College Brighton & Hove, before joining Photoworks as Administrator in 2007.
As Administrator, Jane works part time supporting the Deputy Director and the other members of Photoworks staff. Jane is responsible for the organisation and implementation of office systems and the processing of magazine subscriptions and publication orders.
Dr Catherine Moriarty is Curator of the Design Archive and Principal Research Fellow in the Faculty of Arts and Architecture, University of Brighton.
Amanda King
Formerly an officer at the Arts Council of England, Amanda King is a freelance visual arts consultant
Jane Finnis
Director of the award-winning 24 Hour Museum website.
Julian Rodriguez
Julian Rodriguez is Dean of the School of Media at London College of Communication.
Gilane Tawadros
Gilane Tawadros is a writer and curator. She was the founding Director of inIVA and Curator of the 2007 Brighton Photo Biennial.
Henna Nadeem
Henna Nadeem is an artist based in London whose work has been widely exhibited. Her Photoworks commission, A Picture Book of Britain, was published as a book work in 2007.
Funding
Photoworks has Recurrently Funded Organisation status with the Arts Council of England – South East and is considered to be key to the arts infrastructure of the region. This funding contributes to the core costs of salaries and rent. All other funds are raised on a project by project basis. Photoworks also generates income from the sale of publications and from its magazine subscriptions.
Photoworks is not a grant giving organisation. 
Photoworks gratefully acknowledges funding from the following sources:
The Arts Council of England – South East
The National Lottery through Arts Council England
Brighton and Hove Council
On a project by project basis we receive funding from regional local authorities, partner venues, artists and other sources of arts funding.
From time to time we also receive grants from charitable foundations; anonymous donors and corporate sponsors. If you would like to support Photoworks please contact Rebecca Drew.
As a charity our accounts are available for public scrutiny. Please contact Rebecca Drew for information or contact the Charity Commission or Companies House to obtain a copy.
Company limited by guarantee no. 3043169
Charity no. 1053208
Photoworks is a registered charity and accepts donations of funds, as well as support in kind. We have to raise substantial amounts of income each year so support from donations is vital for our future growth. We are happy to acknowledge all support in our publications.
Photoworks seeks to establish mutually beneficial relationships with sponsors. For example, we have a well established partnership with Spectrum Photographic Ltd, the Hove-based photographic studio, who assist the production of prints for our exhibitions and publications.
We have many more opportunities for business partners to become involved in our work. Our magazine also offers advertising opportunities. Please contact Rebecca Drew for more information.
Donations & Sponsorship
Photoworks is a registered charity and accepts donations of funds, as well as support in kind. We have to raise substantial amounts of income each year so support from donations is vital for our future growth. We are happy to acknowledge all support in our publications.
Photoworks seeks to establish mutually beneficial relationships with sponsors.
For example, we have a well established partnership with Spectrum Photographic Ltd, the Hove-based photographic studio, who assist the production of prints for our exhibitions and publications.
We have many more opportunities for business partners to become involved in our work. Our magazine also offers advertising opportunities. Please contact Rebecca Drew for more information.
Photoworks selects artists whose work we find inspirational. Some of our projects are selected by open submission, others come to our attention through our own research, through submissions and through chance encounters.
In order for us to ensure that we give all submissions our full attention, we ask all artists and photographers to first submit their work to Photoworks magazine. Submissions will be reviewed on a regular basis and all photographers are considered both for inclusion in the magazine and for future commissions.
Please click here to download a PDF outlining our submissions procedure.
Join our mailing list to receive regular updates on Photoworks activities, including details of open submissions.