A new photography creative hub is set to open in Edinburgh, just a stone’s throw from Princes Street. 6 William Street will unite renowned charity Studies in Photography and new artist-run gallery and bookshop AGITATE under one roof. The new venture will provide a go-to hotspot for lens-based artists and photo-curious passers-by, offering an expansive programme of events, exhibitions, and workshops.
The new venue will open officially on Saturday 28 October with a launch event for its first show forty one point five - a celebratory melting pot of contributors’ work from 40 years of Studies in Photography and the first 1.5 years of AGITATE. The launch night will also feature exclusive discounts on a variety of photo wares including a limited run of new AGITATE merchandise and an exciting opportunity to snap up back-issues of the journal from as far back as 1987.
Alexander Hamilton, Chair of Studies in Photography said: “The Scottish Society for History of Photography is opening in its 40th Year a new home for Scottish and International Photography in the heart of Edinburgh. The Society, known as Studies in Photography is delighted to be going into partnership with Agitate over 6 William Street - a home for photography. Finally, after a long history of events, journals, and creative conversations, we are opening a new centre for events and exhibitions, and to house our archive. It will also be a place to find copies of our books and our amazing journal, which features the very best in historical and contemporary photography. In partnership with Agitate, we aim to create Scotland’s premier photographic bookshop. I am particularly grateful to all our sponsors and supporters, who through their generous financial support, our making this dream possible. I look forward to welcoming you all to 6 William Street.”
With more and more creatives using cameras (and cameras increasingly being in everybody’s pockets), plus thousands of photography graduates come out of colleges and universities each year, the demand for image-making and image consumption has never been higher. Yet it can be difficult to feel inspired, to play with pictures, and to find a space to think more critically about the images we are taking. AGITATE’s mission since opening in early 2022 is to make it easier for anyone excited about making pictures to share them, find community, and to provide a viable platform for artists to make income from their work.
Christina Webber, Director of AGITATE said: “We are over the moon to be working with Studies in Photography on this exciting new venture and very grateful for the opportunity. Our mission with AGITATE is to make it easier for fans of photography at any level to buy, sell, show, and discover work, and to provide a welcoming platform for everyone to participate in conversations around image-making. You don’t have to be a ‘full time artist’ - if there even is such a thing - simply someone with a curiosity for pictures. We look at hundreds of images every day, and it’s my sincere hope that 6 William Street will provide a bridge between making images and sharing them, starting a wider conversation about our relationship with the images we consume. With Studies in Photography’s 40-year history and expertise, alongside our ambition and incredible community, we’re excited to see this become a catalyst for conversation and discovery.”
The photography industry is ever-changing. 6 William Street will bridge the old and the new, creating space for learning from a diversity of approaches, techniques, perspectives and interpretations. Alongside book launches, pin-ups, artist talks, reading groups and film clubs, a dynamic programme of workshops (both in-person and online) will complement partnership working with local higher education organisations, whilst the gallery will provide a space for exhibition hire, curated shows, and all manner of other events. Whether you’re a darkroom fanatic, a digital die-hard, an alt-process nerd, or love taking photos on your phone… this is definitely somewhere to check out.
More details about the exhibition, events, education and publishing programmes will be announced at the launch. Join the Studies in Photography and AGITATE mailing lists, and follow both organisations on social media to stay in the loop!
6 William Street will open to the public officially on Saturday 28 October from 1800. Over the winter months, the gallery and bookshop will then be open weekly from Tuesday –
Sunday from 12:00 – 18:00 at 6 William Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7NH.
AGITATE is a new hub for photography in Edinburgh (est. 2022) celebrating pictures in all their forms and supporting those who make them. AGITATE is artist-run and driven by community, with a desire to change the landscape of photography in Scotland by making it easier for lens-based artists to show and sell their work. The shop stocks a range of photo wares including books, zines, prints and film; acts as a drop-off point for local enterprise Rocket Film Lab, hosts a regular programme of events, and provides affordable exhibition and event hire for image-makers at all levels. AGITATE is operated by Filtr Collective, a limited company run by Christina Webber and Jaime Molina.
Lower image credit: Laura Prieto
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