Long exposure:
developing the
UK’s leading
international
photography
festival

FORMAT delivers a year-round multi-stranded programme of international commissions, open calls, residencies, conferences, workshops and collaborations but its centrepiece is a prestige biennale promoting new work by world-renowned practitioners and spotlighting emerging talent.

The latest biennale, FORMAT19, featured 3,000-plus works by 300 artists from over 70 countries, strengthening Derby’s reputation as a cultural powerhouse and generating significant financial and social benefits. An economic footprint evaluation of the Festival calculated that its 23,500 visitors brought an extra £1.9m to the city. Almost half of the visitors were from beyond the East Midlands, with 5% from beyond the UK. 80% of visitors said they were likely to revisit Derby’s cultural offer.

International development

As part of a drive to encourage public understanding and debate of photographic practice, the Festival brings internationally renowned work to new audiences and venues. Many FORMAT events were staged in smaller venues across the East Midlands, including converted temporary and pop-up spaces and at landmark locations such as Derwent Valley World Heritage sites across Derbyshire.

Broadening the research further

Broadening this reach further still, a dynamic social media strategy engaged 14,500 Instagram, 24,000 Twitter and 22,500 Facebook followers while media coverage stretched from the US to China, achieving an estimated advertising value equivalent of £1.5m.

Global growth

To date FORMAT has run to nine editions exploring global issues as diverse as the photograph as reflection of reality ‘Evidence’ (2015), ecological impact and legacies ‘Habitat’ (2017) and the past, memory and the archive ‘Forever/Now’ (2019).  It is underpinned by a rich heritage of education and research into photography and related media practice, which spans more than five decades and is brought together in the University’s Digital and Material Artistic Research Centre.

Over the years, the Festival has grown in scope and stature, thanks to its continued success in attracting funding from eminent cultural sector partners including Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund. It is the only UK member of ‘The Festival of Light’, a global network of over 20 photography festivals.

Changes in the practice

FORMAT has not only captured but also driven dramatic changes in contemporary photography practice. Research-engaged staff serve on the steering group and jury panels, exhibit their own work and contribute to catalogue essays. They also organise a high-profile conference as a core element of the Festival to bring together leading academics, writers, curators and practitioners.

As a truly international event, FORMAT is committed to embracing diverse voices and acts as a springboard for further global collaborations. Exhibits commissioned for the 2019 Festival, featuring works by 300 artists from over 70 countries have gone on to tour China with earlier Festivals touring extensively across Europe.

Researchers

• Professor Huw Davies, Professor in Lens Media (2007-present)
• Dr Philip Harris, Senior Lecturer in Photography (2013-present)
• Gemma Marmalade, Senior Lecturer in Photography (2017-present)
• Stephanie Rushton, Senior Lecturer in Photography (2015-present)
• Carl Robinson, Senior Lecturer in Fine Art (2006-present)

Discover more

• Blog: How the festival grew to an international event
• FORMAT festival