Vivienne Gamble has been appointed director of Edinbrugh's Stills Centre for Photography. She will start in her new role in January 2025. She takes over from Ben Harmer who moved to the National galleries Scotland as senior curator (photography) in the summer.
Gamble is the co-founder and artistic director of the internationally acclaimed Peckham 24 festival of contemporary photography. Established in 2016, Peckham 24 takes place annually during Photo London Week. With a focus on supporting new talent and experimental artists working with photography, the festival creates a vibrant takeover of a number of warehouse and gallery spaces across Copeland Park in the heart of Peckham’s South London artistic scene.
From 2015-2023 she ran Seen Fifteen Gallery, also in Peckham. Seen Fifteen’s programme was dedicated to contemporary photography, and the most recent curatorial project, The Troubles Generation, considered the legacy and impact of the Northern Irish Troubles on artists who were brought up in the shadow of the conflict. Gamble also currently lectures in photography and exhibition practice as an Associate Lecturer at University of the Arts, London.
She said: "It will be an honour to lead Stills on to a new chapter in its illustrious history as a pioneering venue that has championed photography since 1977. As Stills approaches its 50th anniversary, I am particularly excited about the opportunity this offers to celebrate everything the organisation has contributed whilst also working on innovative plans for the future role we can play in the photography scene in Scotland, the UK and internationally."
Stills board chair Lewis Blackwell said: "Vivienne stood out in a very strong field of applicants that came forward for the role and will allow us to continue to grow our reputation for being a major centre for photography in Scotland on a local, national and international stage. Her work in co-founding the Peckham24 photography festival, and then leading it to an international reputation over the past eight years, greatly impressed the interview panel. In the curatorial strengths and executional innovation, we see an approach that indicates Vivienne can be an excellent fit for the next stage of Stills' development. We are also keen to have her organisational and entrepreneurial abilities added into our team. To follow Ben Harman in the Director role, after he did so much to advance Stills over the past decade, will not be easy. We exist in very challenging times for the arts and funding. But we are confident that Vivienne can bring great strengths and fresh energy to Stills."
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