‘Kirkwall Men's Ba’ by Debbie Sutherland from the festival’s 2021 exhibition.

This year’s Stirling Photography Festival is in full swing. Here’s Festival Director Janie Meikle Bland to tell us more.

What is the theme of this year’s festival?

Festival Poster by Alan Gunning — Echoing Scotland's Year of Stories, we’re focussing on storytelling this year - check our fabulous poster by local designer Alan Gunning.

Our exhibitions, speakers and artists have approached and responded to this theme from many angles.
From our opening exhibition at the Tolbooth with artists Coulson & Tennant and Helene Schmitz, sharing stories of man’s impact on our world, to portrait stories with author John Patton and street photography tours with historian Andy McEwan sharing tales of Stirling’s past.

Can you tell us about some of the highlights still to come?

Next week (14 September) we have a double bill at The Barracks with David Grinly and Sonja Blietschau. Sonja, who has been volunteering with the festival since we started, will give her insight into starting a career in photography. While David - a Stills Research Associate & Tutor - will talk about how we tell stories through photographs.

We’re also delighted to be collaborating with the University of Stirling’s Festival of Biodiversity next week. Our artists and speakers will touch on topics as diverse as rewilding, sustainable creative practice and understanding the importance of pollinators in a changing environment.

From a photo walk with local nature and wildlife photographer Mandy Williams to Scott Hunter’s talk on dark room ecology and his sustainable approach to photography (pictured), there’s something for everyone.

We’ll also hear the story of Scotland’s first beaver relocation project through pictures.

Who are you partnering with this year?

Partnership is at the heart of how we work and this year we are delighted to be working again with Street Level Photoworks of Glasgow, to bring a uniquely curated exhibition of internationally acclaimed work to the Tolbooth.

The Barracks Conference Centre have also been enthusiastic sponsors of the festival. We have worked closely with them to present a series of events by artists working in areas of importance to them, including a talk and workshop led by renowned photographer Margaret Mitchell.

Here's what Margaret, who hails from Stirling, had to say about her involvement:

“It’s been incredibly moving for me to come back to the area I grew up in and share work not only made here, but also ongoing projects from elsewhere.

“Being able to engage with people in person through an artist’s talk and via zoom for the workshop, discussing the power and possibilities of photography, has been really rewarding.

“I have been so impressed with the incredibly poignant and moving work people produced as part of my workshop. I am excited to see how the festival develops year on year and the cultural opportunities people can access through it.”

What do you think the festival has achieved since it was established in 2018?

Our mantra is ‘Developing Community, Developing Creativity, Developing Skills’. The festival was initially established with the aim of connecting people through photography and creating opportunities to build networks and to learn.

Here’s what some of those we have been involved this year have had to say:

“Over the year I have been volunteering, my experience and prospects in videography have grown unbelievably. Thanks to the many introductions I’ve had through this work I have branched out to work with artists like David Gilliver, whose light painting I have documented, and Amanda Edmiston, a storyteller who I am collaborating with on multiple projects. Being part of this incredible team has opened so many opportunities and has really elevated my skills and the quality of work I am producing.” - Zeph Durkin, member of the festival creative team.

“The way the project unfolded was really liberating. Listening to Margaret talk about her practice and the journeys her stories take was very interesting and confidence giving. I found the brief focused me to create a visual story in a way I had not done before. Meeting everyone on zoom and sharing our work has created a beginning and I really hope that we form a group from this starting point. I feel it has encouraged me to get more involved with the Stirling Photography Festival.” - Alison McLeod, participant in Margaret Mitchell Close to Home workshops

How can local people get involved?

As well as coming along to our events or exhibitions, local people can also take part by sending in an entry for our public exhibition and commemorative photo book. In keeping with our 2022 theme of ‘Stories’ we’d love to see photographs which tell a story, whether that be literal, abstract, or interpretive.