INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF PHOTOGRAPHY + DIGITAL ART

Postponement

Posted : 16-March-20

It is with great sadness that we have, after much deliberating, had to make the difficult decision due to the COVID-19 outbreak to postpone West Coast Photo’s upcoming exhibitions and associated programme, which was due to launch this Friday 20th March and run for 6 weeks.

Public health and safety is our priority, and although according to current government guidance we are still able to continue to deliver some activities, we feel we are obliged to take seriously our responsibility for our audiences and guests. We also anticipate there would be much, much lower numbers of attendees as people avoid non-essential gatherings, so feel it makes more sense to try our very best to reschedule for a time when everyone who’d like to be able to attend can do so. We feel that other festivals and arts venues internationally have also decided that postponement is the best and safest action to take.

We are so disappointed and sad just now to have to postpone, but we believe we can still make it happen as well, if not better, when we reschedule!

We will now start working on the rescheduling plans and look forward to welcoming audiences to West Coast Photo in the future.

Thank you all so much for your support.

Best wishes, all the Signal Film & Media Team!

EXHIBITIONS

VANESSA WINSHIP

Vanessa Winship is an internationally-acclaimed British social documentary photographer. Her new series produced for West Coast Photo, will be presented alongside Phoebe Kiely at Cooke's Studios, Barrow
Find out more

MISHKA HENNER

Mishka Henner is a photographer and digital artist redefining the role of photography in the internet age. His new installation with Bhatti will explore the West Coast's critical role in Britain's energy infrastructure
Find out more

CUMBRIAN FOCUS: KATRIN JOOST, HENRY IDDON & JOHN DARWELL

An exhibition of new work from 3 leading North West photographers who have extensively documented Cumbria & The West Coast: Katrin Joost, Henry Iddon & John Darwell.
FInd out more

THE CARAVAN GALLERY

Join The Caravan Gallery in Barrow Market Square to help them create an evolving exhibition celebrating Barrow. They will be exploring the Sankey postcard archive & running drop-in workshops.
Find out more

WEST COAST: RETROSPECTIVE

First exhibited at the Dock Museum, our retrospective exhibition will tour to The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven. The exhibition showcases life in the region from the early 20th century to now, through the work of 27 artists, photographers & filmmakers.
Find out more

RAILWAY STATION ARTWORKS

Cumbrian Coast, Furness & Lakes Line
Look out for photographs from some of our featured artists & open call winners at the following stations: Barrow, Whitehaven, Workington, Millom, Ulverston, Grange-over-Sands, Kendal & Windermere. Thanks to Cumbria Community Rail & Northern Rail.
More info coming soon

West Coast Photo is a new international photography festival that will explore and celebrate the Cumbrian West Coast. Focusing on photography and digital art, the festival will feature exhibitions, new commissions, exhibitions, workshops, mentoring opportunities and an open call competition.

Keep checking this page and our social media channels for the most up-to-date information.

PHOEBE KIELY

Phoebe Kiely is a British documentary photographer working in film. She will be producing a new series in response to the region to be exhibited in Barrow-in-Furness at Signal Film & Media.
See more of Phoebe's work

LABOURING THE LANDSCAPE

These exhibitions display the work of 20 local people who have been mentored by photographer Robert Parkinson, documenting life on the West Coast as seen through their eyes.
See more of Robert's work

WEST COAST PHOTOGRAPHERS

R.L Wilson, Julia Parks, Rachel Capovila & Philip Green
This exhibition brings together the work of 4 artists living and working in Barrow & The Cumbrian West Coast
Find out more

A SENSE OF PLACE

A summary exhibition of a recent residency programme at Florence Arts Centre featuring ceramics, collage, film, photography, sculpture and spoken word.
More info coming soon

COPELAND DIGITAL ARTS ACTIVITIES

COPELAND DIGITAL ARTS ACTIVITIES

FIND OUT WHAT WORKSHOPS, COURSES AND EVENTS ARE TAKING PLACE IN COPELAND DURING WEST COAST PHOTO FESTIVAL
We are running an exciting programme of free exhibitions, hands-on workshops, courses and talks in various locations in Copeland during West Coast Photo Festival. Check back soon for full details.

WORKSHOPS

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY WITH VANESSA WINSHIP

Ages 16+
Aimed at keen photographers. Produce photographs & postcards with guidance from one of Britain’s most respected photographers.

ART + THE INTERNET WITH MISHKA HENNER

Ages 16+
Mishka Henner uses the internet & the mass of available online data as material to create visually striking artworks. In this exciting workshop Mishka will discuss his work & introduce some creative & eclectic ways to use online resources to create fascinating images

CYANOTYPE PRINTING WITH JULIA PARKS

Ages 16+
Learn how to create your own cyanotypes - widely known as blueprints. Experience the entire process from composition to the final print. Learn how to mix your own chemicals and prepare an artwork. Take home the finished product!

NEXT STEPS IN DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Ages 16+
Do you enjoy outdoor photography but want to learn how to take it to the next level? This is the workshop for you.

YOUNG PEOPLE + FAMILy-FRIENDLY

FAMILY-FRIENDLY AFTERNOONS | DROP-IN WORKSHOPS

Ages 4+
Join us for an afternoon of family fun as part of our festival launch weekends taking place in Barrow & Whitehaven, where there will be free hands-on workshops where you can learn cameraless photography & digital art.

BARROW PRIDE OF PLACE PROJECT: THE CARAVAN GALLERY

Join the Caravan Gallery in Market Square, making postcards, drawings and/or poems and helping contribute to their evolving exhibition! Equal fun for the kids and the grown ups...

PHOTO ANIMATION WORKSHOP

Date tbc | Ages 11-15
Photographer Robert Parkinson will be mentoring two groups to produce their own series of photographs for an exhibition

DINO DAY x WEST COAST PHOTO

Date tbc | Ages 11-15
Come along to Market Square for a day of photography and dinosaur-themed family fun as we team up with Barrow's Dino Day.

OPEN CALL COMPETITION

OPEN CALL COMPETITION

Submit your photos of the Cumbrian West Coast to be a part of our 2020 festival. Prizes awarded for First and Second place. Entering is free
FInd out more

TALKS

MISHKA HENNER: ART IN A DIGITAL AGE

Join acclaimed photographer & artist Mishka for a talk about his fascinating career as a digital artist, the integral role the internet plays in his artistic process & his new commission for West Coast Photo

PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE COMMUNITY

The Caravan Gallery & Robert Parkinson
Hear Robert Parkinson & The Caravan Gallery discuss approaches to socially-engaged photography & the impact this can have in our communities

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