STIRLING PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL 2024 HONOURS CITY’S 900TH YEAR

Stirling’s annual Photography Festival is underway this month with its theme of ‘Roots and Rituals’ marking a celebration of the city’s people and place during its 900^th year.

The popular Festival has proved a major success so far with packed-out exhibitions and events including the ‘Keeping the Stories Alive’ panel session at The Tolbooth exploring Stirling’s vibrant musical history and featuring characters from the city’s punk and post-punk counterculture.

And there is still much to see and do with events and photo walks across Stirlingshire and the key Roots and Rituals Exhibition Trail which celebrates the work of Stirling’s photographers and artists in a number of city venues.

The programme of events runs until Sunday September 28 and more details can be found on the website – www.stirlingphotographyfestival.co.uk/2024programme

Stirling Photography Festival Creative Director and founder Janie Meikle Bland is looking forward to welcoming more visitors to events over the next two weeks.

She said: “Our theme this year is all about celebrating Stirling’s people and place as the city marks its 900^th year as a Royal Burgh. This has shaped our programme and it’s wonderful to have engaged so many local artists, students and photographers who have enjoyed the opportunity to exhibit in their own communities.

“We’ve had great feedback for our events so far especially ‘Keeping the Stories Alive’ which was a successful celebration of Stirling’s music scene inspired by the book by David Meldrum Lowe.

“This year, which is our seventh Festival, we’ve been keen to host events in the wider Stirlingshire community including at The Old Mill in Killin and West Moss-Side Farm in Thornhill. This is a new move for us and one which has proved popular.

“I’m delighted with what we have achieved so far this year and there is still plenty of time for people to get involved with the Festival and visit our main Roots and Rituals Exhibition and the events we have planned for the next couple of weeks.”

The Roots and Rituals Exhibition Trail features displays of work by local photographers at city centre locations including Caffe Pompei, Ginger Roots, Go Forth Stirling’s headquarters, Unorthodox Roasters and Made in Stirling.

It also takes in The Tolbooth where visitors can enjoy two music photography exhibitions – `What Presence: the Music Photography of Harry Papadopoulos’ and `Keeping the Stories Alive.’

Meanwhile, The Barracks Conference Centre is hosting `Home – A Portrait of New Scots’ while several displays are taking place at the University of Stirling including ‘Six Works’ by renowned Stirling-born documentary photographer Margaret Mitchell.

Events include a guided walk with Dunblane-based artist Tom Astburywhose exhibition `dùthchas’ in the gallery at the Old Mill in Killin celebrates the 300th anniversary of Gaelic poet Duncan Bàn MacIntyre.

Following a brief talk at the gallery, visitors will travel by minibus to Glen Lochay where many of the photographs were taken and Tom will lead a walk into the historic landscape where Duncan Bàn MacIntyre lived from 1746.

Tickets are also still available for a talk by Margaret Mitchell about her storytelling practice and the responsibility and ethics in representing the lives of others through photography on Wednesday September 25 at the University.

And photography-lovers can also sign up for `Our Roots Are in the River’ – a guided walk through Riverside and Cambuskenneth with local historian Andy McEwan on Sunday September 29.

All Stirling Photography Festival events are free and can be booked via Eventbrite.

The Festival this year is supported by long-term partners The Barracks Conference Centre, the Tolbooth, Street Level Photoworks, The Smith Art Gallery and Museum, Made in Stirling, the Macrobert Arts Centre and the Art Collection at the University of Stirling.

Sponsorship from local businesses has also ensured the delivery of an exceptional programme of free-to-attend events, workshops and exhibitions led by some of Scotland’s best emerging and established artists. This year’s sponsors include STEP Scotland, Untitled Barber Club, Vialli Gardens, Doune Woodyard, the Meadowpark, The Robertson Trust, Go Forth Stirling BID and industry sponsor – Gulabi of Glasgow.

For more information, about the Festival and its forthcoming events visit www.stirlingphotographyfestival.co.uk

Written by

Rachel Blackburn

Based in Stirling, Rachel specialises in working with small and medium-sized companies across Central Scotland to raise their profile through targeted media relations. She finds the newsworthy stories every business has to tell and delivers them to the right audience in a straightforward and cost-effective manner. Rachel worked as a newspaper reporter and in various roles, including feature writer, Los Angeles correspondent and Scottish News Editor, for wire service The Press Association before founding Blackburn Communications in 2012. She works on a one-to-one basis with clients getting to know their business and finding the best outlets to share their news with current and potential customers, staff and stakeholders. It is very much a personal and flexible service tailored to their needs and budget. Rachel, a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Forth Valley Chamber of Commerce, also offers bespoke writing services for firms including help with business awards application forms and copywriting for Blogs.