What are the issues raised by the commissioning of new works by a photographic archive? How do these new works alter or activate the existing archival collections; how do they alter understandings of the archive? And what are the considerations for a photographer/artist making work specifically to enter the archive?
The Library of Birmingham Photographic Archive holds over 3.5 million items, ranging from daguerreotypes at the dawn of the medium to works by contemporary practitioners. The most recent additions to the archive are the works produced through Reference Works, Birmingham’s largest photography commission to date. The project saw four artists - Michael Collins, Brian Griffin, Andrew Lacon and Stuart Whipps - commissioned to respond creatively to the move and transition from the 1970s Central Library to the new Library of Birmingham, opened in September 2013.
Using Reference Works as a starting point, this symposium will consider archival commissioning in a broader context, from the perspective of the archivist, the historian, the curator, the photographer, the artist and the art writer. Speakers include Reference Works artists Professor Brian Griffin, Andrew Lacon and Stuart Whipps; Curator and Head of Photographs at the Library of Birmingham Pete James; Creative director, photo historian and lecturer Anne Braybon; Professor of Philosophy and Director, Centre for Fine Art Research, BIAD, BCU Professor Johnny Golding; photographer and Professor of Photography at the University of Brighton Professor Mark Power and artist, critic and art historian Dr Lucy Soutter. Further speakers will be announced shortly.
Building the archive: the Reference Works photography project in context
Friday 28th February 2014
9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Library of Birmingham
Early Bird Until Friday 31st January
Full Price £25
Concession £20
Standard
Full Price £30
Concession £25
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/building-the-archive-the-reference-works-photography-project-in-context-tickets-10077180117
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