STIRLING PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL CELEBRATING STIRLING 900 ANNIVERSARY

Written By Kevin Harrison

Call for Submissions: Commemorative Stirling 900 Photography Book.

Stirling – March 2025

The Stirling Photography Festival is proud to announce the creation of a special commemorative photography book: Stirling 900... A Celebration of the People and the Place. This book will capture the spirit of this historic year through a curated collection of photographs submitted by the public.

Curated and produced by members of the Stirling 900 Steering Committee and volunteers from the festival’s creative team, this book will serve as a lasting tribute to Stirling’s vibrant community. Proudly sponsored by Stirling District Tourism, the book will also feature a Foreword by the Lord Provost of Stirling, underscoring the significance of this anniversary for the county and its people.

Stirling Makar Laura Fyfe speaks at the Church of the Holy Rude to open the Stirling 900 Celebrations. Image by Tom Astbury.

Call for Submissions

The call for public submissions will officially open in March 2025, inviting residents and visitors alike to contribute their best photographs taken throughout our anniversary year. From everyday moments and community gatherings, to iconic locations and historic events, the published collection will help tell the story of Stirling’s people and places throughout this commemorative year.

The final moments of the year-long festivities, including the closing celebrations at the end of March, will also be included in this visual archive. Selected images will be carefully curated to create a compelling narrative that reflects the diversity, heritage, and vibrancy of Stirling and its surrounding areas.

Janie Meikle Bland, from Stirling Photography Festival says of this project

“The festival team are delighted to contribute to the Stirling 900 legacy by creating this unique book of photographs. Over the past seven years, as part of our annual festival, we have produced a series of wonderful photobooks with contributions from people the world over. The festival team will use our skills and expertise to produce this unique, curated collection to celebrate all that is Stirling in its 900th year – we want to include images from the length and breadth of Stirling county – your photographs of community gatherings, sporting celebrations, iconic landscapes, people, nature and our magnificent built heritage. Selected images will make up a collection which will showcase the best of Stirling through the eyes of the people.”

A Lasting Tribute to Stirling 900

Following the submission phase, the content will be curated in April, with the final book set for completion by the end of May. This Stirling 900... A Celebration of the People and the Place book will serve as a cherished record of this extraordinary year.

Ben Lomond from Stirling. Image by Janie Meikle Bland.

How to Participate

Photographers of all levels of experience are encouraged to submit their images for consideration. Whether capturing a candid street scene, a family celebration, a community event, or an iconic Stirlingshire landmark, submissions will create a unique storytelling project. For submission guidelines, deadlines and further details please visit the festival website at Stirlingphotographyfestival.co.uk

Stirling Photography Festival.

Stirling Photography was established in 2018 and has grown to become an internationally recognised visual arts festival. Running through September, the festival programme includes an exciting range of free to access exhibitions, talks and workshops led by artists from across the world. Our fundamental aims are to support the development of our cultural community through offering meaningful experiences for volunteers and early career artists, and opportunities for established professionals to showcase work and deliver events in Stirlingshire.

www.stirlingphotographyfestival.co.uk
Contact: jmeiklebland@hotmail.com

Stirling District Tourism.

Stirling District Tourism Limited (SDT) is a local charity committed to managing and promoting cultural and historic events, services and attractions in the greater Stirling area.

SDT currently operate Legends at the Monument café and gift shop at the foot of the National Wallace Monument, the visitor experience at the Church of the Holy Rude and Legends at Cowane’s café within Cowane’s Hospital.

Websites: www.legendsatthemonument.co.uk
www.churchoftheholyrude.co.uk
Contact: Tracey@sdtourism.org

Kevin Harrison
Kevin Harrison is the Director of Artlink Central, a charity and social enterprise designing creative experiences in conjunction with artists, public bodies and led by disadvantaged or marginalised people particularly in health, social care or criminal justice contexts. . Kevin joined the organisation five years ago and was previously Arts and Wellbeing Manager with Sense Scotland since 2006, supporting a Scotland-wide participation in the arts for disabled people with communication needs. Kevin managed the development of a range of arts projects including Threads and Found in Translation, projects exploring cultural diversity and disability, and Leaving New Craigs, a life history project in Inverness for people leaving the last long stay hospital in Scotland. He managed a national arts and wellbeing team and supported the establishment of a strong creative programme in the TouchBase, a new inclusive base for people and communities supported by Sense Scotland in the south side of Glasgow. Kevin who has a degree in theatre and film from Roehampton University and who undertook postgraduate studies in Arts Management and Policy at Birkbeck University of London is also a trustee for Scottish Prison Arts Network, chair of Dementia Friendly Forth Valley as part of a Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) programme. Previous posts include freelance editor and administration roles with key national disability arts organisation, Shape Arts and public sector roles in Arts Development and as Business Manager, Creative Academy, Slough Borough Council, supporting a multi-million pound EQUAL creative industries inclusion programme . He also has experience of managing Music 4 Slough, a Youth Music Action Zone.
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