First Edition Of Gloucester’s New Photo Festival To Launch In August

This summer, Hundred Heroines & Friends will be taking over the top floor of the Eastgate Shopping Centre and other venues in the city for a photography extravaganza. Visitors can expect a packed weekend of exhibitions, talks, screenings, and activities, with plenty of opportunities to get involved. 

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Friday 26 and Saturday 27 August: 10:00 – 20:00 

Sunday 28 and Monday 29 August: 10:30 – 16:30 

The line-up will include the interactive portraiture series Skin Deep by Ecuadorian artist Paola Paredes, which represents the dualities lived by LGBT+ people in Ecuador; Laxmi by Indian photographer Anita Khemka, which follows the story of the eponymous hijra rights activist; and the multimedia experience Astro 2030 by Mexican artist Mónica Alcázar Duarte, which propels audiences into an imaginative, cosmic future. 

Alongside these internationally renowned artists, local photography collective Glossy will be hosting an ever-changing exhibition on the theme of ‘what it means to be a woman’, and graduates of the Hundred Heroines 2022 ‘Bootcamp’ programme will be showcasing their work on Photography & Protest. 

A cohort of inspiring guest speakers will illuminate the festival programme. Talks include a keynote address from internationally acclaimed US experimental photographer Ellen Carey, a glance through ‘Quirky Vision’ from sassy US street photographer Meryl Meisler, and alternative recreations of popular fiction from Nigerian photographer Jenevieve Aken. 

Del Barrett, Chair of Hundred Heroines: “We’re beyond excited to know that so much outstanding work created by women is going to be seen by a wider audience and hope that Photo Gloucester will become an annual fixture in the city’s cultural calendar. The whole festival is participatory so anyone can come along and unleash their creative selves!  We have a big blank creative canvas just waiting to be filled with art.” 

The festival also offers visitors a chance to explore Hundred Heroines’ growing permanent collection – a rich and unusual array of objects which provide a unique way to learn more about the work of outstanding women artists. The diverse range of artefacts, both humble and profound, recount the history of some of today’s most significant artworks.