Photography organisations react to ACE funding decisions [Friday update]

Cut but not dead..

I am simultaneously excited that some of these great organisations have had their funding renewed and also angry that some have been slashed and will probably now cease to operate. Adding up the totals listed in this article already comes close to 1 Million UKP from the Arts Council that has been secured for the next year in relation to photography organisations. Sadly among us freelance photographers/artists the Arts Council when considered directly as an entity can often be perceived as being stagnated, bureaucratic, off the pulse or already flat-lining. Working dynamically on projects which often now feature social networks or a cross-media output we wouldn't even be close to a "funding feedback" date before a project of ours is already being realised.

I feel that photography organisations that are being funded are forced to satisfy targets of "audience" or "emerging/youth" projects to secure their funding long-term and spend much of their energy doing this. However they do simultaneously provide support/networks/platforms for mid-career or established photographers and this is the best way that we can get close to the benefit of arts council funding. Anyone carving a new niche in the photography world is either cashing Daddy's cheque or balancing/maximising their output with the cashflow opportunities it could yield. With the austerity and lack of budgets in the photography/media/art sector artists and photo-journalists are putting everything into their work, often at great personal risk, with great efficiency.

As image-makers we benefit from Photography Organisations that help us bask closer to the glow of public funding without lengthy application processes. So in parallel Arts Organisations that have been funded, often for decades, or sadly have been slashed, need to move even closer to their successful artists and freelancers. Do not be afraid to shake up the rule book and begin to experiment in ways of funding, reaching audiences or getting things done through partnerships. Many of these places provided our initial introduction to photography, a place to make friends not competitors and inspired us by exhibiting those that make work we admire and aspire to be referenced against. A new breed of photographers is now on the circuit that are achieving great things but have never had the crutch of funding or known anything but "bad-budgets". This round of cuts is inevitable with the state of our economy but if we club closer together and work leaner and meaner then the quality of our collective work can only improve as a result.

AXE falls on Side

The Side Gallery in Newcastle-upon-Tyne is one of the most important galleries dedicated to the art of documentary photography in the UK if not the the western world. Their vast and valuable archive of photographs has been built-up over 40 years by purchasing and commissioning original work by dedicated documentary photographers concerned with social issues.

ACE's axe fell on Side because they didn't tick all the boxes. The boxes that were ticked weren't big enough for Side's continued achievements, social engagement, innovation and serious support to documentary photographers over many years.

The Side Gallery is run by Amber who are a film & photography collective. A consistent theme of their exhibition and collection policy has been to employ and show photographers who are respectful of their subject who record a social documentary narrative of the people and their environment that has both a local and national relevance.

Some of my most significant work was made through the Side Gallery's direct and indirect support. These include Cumbrian Landscapes 1979-80, Durham Coalfield 1983, Druridge Bay 1983, Urban Dreams - Newcastle and Gateshead 2001, Durham Coalfield Revisited 2004 and City State 2010.

Increases

During these trying times I understand certain cuts are going to be made.
What I cannot fathom is how and why ACE has removed certain organisations funding such as The Side Gallery in Newcastle when they are making such large increases of funding to others. +157.3% To Focal Point Gallery being an example.
Obviously I don't know how much funding Focal Point or any of the other organisations had originally, but surely to increase anyone's funding at this time especially by this percentage at the risk of other important organisations going to the wall is ridiculous.

Side Gallery

I can't help feeling that the decision to axe ACE funding to Side Gallery is a result, in part at least, of narrow-minded thinking about the contribution of photography to art. and culture. As John Davies points out in his comment, Side Gallery has a distinguished history of championing and showcasing the best in documentary photography, Such work is as compelling and thought-provoking as any other kind of photography and the phenomenal success of the current London Street Photography exhibition at the Museum of London, suggests that it continues to be a big hit with the general public, particularly amongst the younger generation. We badly need organisations like Side Gallery to foster the continued production of independent documentary work.