Photography Lecturers collaborate with Redeye to share expertise
The Hugh Baird University Centre have joined forces with photography network, Redeye, in a project offering knowledge and expertise to new photography graduates.
The Hugh Baird University Centre have joined forces with photography network, Redeye, in a project offering knowledge and expertise to new photography graduates.
‘Fourth Year’ is a pilot project organised by Redeye in partnership with several universities in the North of England and the Hugh Baird University Centre recently hosted the first in the project’s series of professional development workshops for graduates making the transition from university to industry.
The workshops are aimed at helping recent graduates with the challenges of starting out in their career, balancing work commitments with personal projects, family life and financial matters once they leave the supportive network of tutors and peers. Fourth Year will provide regular advice sessions and support young photographers to establish themselves.
The Hugh Baird University Centre sessions saw its Digital Imaging and Photography lecturers, David Lockwood, Tadhg Devlin and Stephanie Wynn, giving advice and portfolio feedback to attendees.
Currently part time photographer/course leader of the FdA/BA (Hons) Top up in Digital Imaging and Photography at the Hugh Baird University Centre, David graduated from Staffordshire University in the 90’s and has worked as a freelance photographer. He has held numerous teaching positions, including lecturer and research lecturer for Manchester Metropolitan University. His photography has won numerous awards such as the AFAEP (Association of Photographers) Still Life award and North Staffordshire Arts Society Award. He continues to produce exhibition based work and his solo, joint and open exhibitions have included ‘playmate’, ‘Contra Naturam’, ‘Another Mind in Your Eye’ touring exhibition and performance, ‘Standing Shift’ performance with photography, the National Trust’s ‘Ham House – Times Past and Present’ and South Bank ‘Photo Show’ opens.
After completing his studies, Tadhg was offered a place at the internationally renowned Magnum Photos office in London where he worked in the extensive archive and with a number of photographers on assignments. He was also an assistant to the Magnum president Chris Steele-Perkins throughout his time there. Tadgh worked as a freelance photographer in London for more than ten years. He has exhibited his work in a range of photographic galleries as well as pursuing his own personal projects in both Ireland and England. As well as being a lecturer on the Digital Imaging and Photography courses at the University Centre, Tadgh is currently working on a long term project involving the Liverpool Irish diaspora, some of which was exhibited at the Bluecoat Gallery in 2013.
Stephanie teaches one day a week on the Digital Imaging and Photography degree programmes and, for the last twenty years, has worked in partnership with another photographer, running a successful freelance photography company. Their highly respected business is an approved supplier for many companies including: The National Trust, Volkswagen/Bentley, Moorfields Group PLC, The CanaI River Trust and Welsh Tourism. Stephanie is also involved with her own art practice and continues to work on personal projects, exhibiting and publishing widely and closer to home by being involved in Liverpool Look Festivals, The Independents Biennial and Liverpool Art Prize. She is currently working with Open Eye Gallery Liverpool as part of their ‘Culture Shifts: Local’ projects and continuing with a long term McCoy Wynne collaboration ‘Triangulation’ recently shown as part as Northern Eye Festival.
Explaining the ethos behind the Fourth Year project, Director of Redeye, Paul Herrmann, said:
“We are responding to the growing awareness of the difficulties that students face in the period after they graduate –and we are also aiming to help make the North and other English regions a better place to work. This is an exciting pilot for us that builds upon our partnerships with universities.”
Redeye developed the idea for Fourth Year with Manchester Metropolitan University and is launching the 2017-18 pilot programme across North West England and Yorkshire. As an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation and a member of the Northern Photography Consortium, Redeye has always championed collaborative. It hopes that Fourth Year will build upon their success as a leading support network for creative practitioners within the arts. The new partnership with Northern universities aims to encourage people to stay in the North as a place to practice. Other universities involved in the programme include the University of Salford, Hugh Baird University Centre, University of Cumbria and Blackpool and Fylde College.
Fourth Year starts in October as free Wednesday evening drop in sessions, and runs until spring 2018, with more dates and university partners to be announced throughout the year. A staff member from the hosting institution leads each session, with visitors from Redeye and the northern photographic community to offer additional support.
These workshops are primarily for those who have graduated from photography who feel they would benefit from contact time with experienced tutors and arts professionals. Graduates can attend any and as many of the sessions they like and don't need to have graduated from the hosting university hosting; they just need a valid Redeye membership that costs just £2.50 per month and offers a wide range of additional benefits to their career. This is also means if graduates have moved away from the city they called home for three years, they can still access the help they need to further their photography and art practice.
