Arts Development UK

Introduction to Arts Development UK

Entitled ‘A Process of Illumination’, the Arts Development UK conference explored key issues including: the shape and future of arts development, the realities of the Big Society and navigating the political and economic landscape.

The main task of the photography residency was to document a creative account of the conference that could be used to illustrate a published report following the event and circulated nationally.

Over the two days I photographed a mix of keynote presentations, breakouts, study tours, and open forum discussion groups.

The conference spanned a number of locations in Blackpool during the two days, including the new Comedy Carpet on the promenade, Blackpool Lightworks (home to the Illuminations), the Grand Theatre and Winter Gardens.

The photography residency concluded with a sharing-piece that I produced with two poets (Mike Garry and Tony Walsh) in residence and featured a presentation of eighty-five final photographs taken during the course of the conference.