I (and my co-directors) usually publish on this site as the voice of ‘Exposure Leeds’ – mainly in an attempt to focus on the people we’re talking to rather than have all this as a personal brandbuilding exercise but, for once, I’m going to be writing, regularly, about my impending visit to the United States.
When sitting down to start this I considered where it would be best to post it (I do, after all have both a personal blog, a photo blog and various social media outlets), but I decided to post here as I felt that you, as members of Exposure Leeds should have a chance to understand the whys and wherefores as to how I got in the amazing position of taking part in this photographer’s exchange, and to hear as soon as possible what happens along the way.
For those who are playing catch-up back in March the wonderful Michael Brohm visited us from his native Louisville; a city twinned with our own based of Leeds. Michael came along with prints from his previous visits to Perm, Russia – organised, as with this exchange, by the Sisters Cities of Louisville. He talked to us, took part in a workshop and took many pictures of the city (more of that soon).
This all started in 2010 – when, as part of the Leeds Photo Week activities, Alex Lawler from Leeds City Council’s International Leeds department came to the opening of ‘The Best of Leeds, Volume One‘ and asked if we’d be interested in helping host a visiting photographer from Louisville.
Since then both I and the other directors have discussed the relative importance of creating links outside the city and how this can educate and inform what we do here – how this can enhance our own work and show us these worlds beyond ours.
I head to the states on September 17th with several remits, and I want to be honest and up front about each – because I’m hoping all will advantage Exposure Leeds’ members:
•To develop my own work and experience – I’ll admit to personal gain here; that I get the chance to go to a place I probably wouldn’t otherwise visit – to engage with locals and to see who that place differs from Leeds; and the ways in which it’s the same. I want to come back with at least one new piece of work to enhance my folio – and to share with you and others in the city.
•To create links with those in another city – and this isn’t just some social connection, I’d like to find photographers in our twinned city and, hopefully, allow these to connect directly with Exposure Leeds and it’s membership. That maybe we can get photographers collaborating, sharing knowledge and combining their expertise and creating work thousands of miles apart. I am already in contact with a half-dozen photographers in the city; by the time I return I’d like this figure to be 25 or more.
•To understand what makes a good exchange – we’ve never done it before and, along with other challenges Exposure Leeds attempts, we don’t want to just follow the rules set by others, but we do want to work out how we can ensure these twinning projects become a success. I’m aiming to make connections in Louisville that will ensure any member visiting that city in the future will find a warm welcome, but also working out who we can facilitate that warm welcome elsewhere.
•To visit the Idea Festival – this is a major event in the city, and my visit has been timed to coincide with it, where some of the world’s great thinkers get together and share ideas. I’ve been invited to go along and record the event and to meet the delegates and speakers. This will form a single piece of work I hope to share with the world upon my return.
•To create a stronger link between the two cities. I’m sure many in Leeds are unaware of Louisville, never mind being aware of the twin connection; I’d like to change this and show more people in Leeds a little of what Louisville is and who it’s people are.
The imminence of Louisville is oh so exciting, but it’s not our only established ‘twin’ link – I’ve been actively involved in the 3 Harbours Arts Festival in Scotland (not truly international, but still it’s beyond our city), and will be talking about this at this year’s Photocamp and we are already looking into the possibility of twinning links with Leeds’ South African connection – Durban.
I’ll add more to this in the coming days – and update you on what is planned for my trip. But I think that is a good place to sign off, for today.
Image © Glorious Gaduang, used under creative commons licence with thanks
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