Overview

This webinar brings together three leading photography institutions—Belfast Exposed, Photo Museum Ireland in Dublin, and The Photographers’ Gallery in London —to explore opportunities for artists who use photography in their practice. Each organisation will deliver a 20-minute presentation outlining their work, available programmes, and ways artists can engage with them, followed by a Q&A session where attendees can pose questions directly to the speakers.

Whether you are an emerging or established artist, this session will provide insights into residencies, commissions, exhibition opportunities, professional development, and ways to connect with curators and photography networks across Ireland and the UK.

Photo Museum Ireland

“Photo Museum Ireland is Ireland’s national centre for contemporary photography. We are dedicated to advancing the development, appreciation and understanding of photography and visual culture across Ireland. We connect diverse audiences with inspirational and exciting photography and visual culture. Our mission is to promote great photography while supporting both established and emerging artists to develop their practices. Photo Museum Ireland stimulates debate and new perspectives on the role of the photographic image in society through innovative exhibitions and curated programmes that address important artistic, cultural, and societal issues. With 5-6 major exhibitions annually, Photo Museum Ireland enlightens, challenges, and inspires over 60,000 visitors each year. Our dynamic engagement programmes enrich public awareness of photography and enhance the understanding of visual culture. We facilitate meaningful exchanges between artists and the public by fostering inclusive opportunities for engagement ensuring that great photography is accessible to all. Photo Museum Ireland believes in the transformative power of photography to enrich lives and provoke critical dialogues.”For more information, visit: www.photomuseumireland.ie
Supported by The Arts Council, Dublin City Council and The Heritage Council and by sponsors and patrons.

Trish Lambe Bio

Trish Lambe is the Artistic Director/CEO at Photo Museum Ireland, Ireland’s national centre for contemporary photography. She leads the artistic programming team and the development of the museum’s collection initiative. She has curated exhibitions by leading Irish and international artists and programmed national and international commissions, exhibitions, events, and symposia addressing key issues in contemporary photography. Recent projects include the co-curation of the Akihiko Okamura ‘The Memories of Others’ exhibition and photo book. She is a nominator,  juror and portfolio reviewer for national and international artists’ awards and commissions, most recently the Deutsche Borse Prize,  LSI Women in Photography Grant, Prix Pictet, Format, Rencontres d’Arles, Hendrik teNeues Photo Award, Encontros da Imagen, Braga and the Creative Europe Project Groundswell Awards.

The Photographers’ Gallery

The Photographers’ Gallery is a publicly funded photography gallery in the heart of Soho London founded in 1971. It is a place for the discovery, exploration and understanding of photography in all its forms. As well as a programme of exhibitions, talks, workshops courses and commissions, there is an outdoor art space called Soho Photography Quarter, bringing our programmes out onto the streets directly surrounding the gallery. We also commission Unthinking Photography, an online platform that shares current thinking on photography’s increasingly automated, networked life.

Karen McQuaid Bio

Karen McQuaid is Senior Curator at The Photographers’ Gallery where she has curated key exhibitions since 2009. Karen has also curated exhibitions at The Moscow House of Photography and The National Gallery of Kosovo. She regularly contributes texts and edits artists’ books, writes for international photography publications and institutions. She is Associate Lecturer at London College of Communication.

Belfast Exposed

For over 40 years Belfast Exposed has led the way in challenging, shaping and bringing meaning to our culture and society. Through the power of photography, we have created a unique photo collection, capturing who we were, who we are and, in turn, what we can become. It serves us to ensure an inspiring, enduring legacy for today and beyond.
Starting out in dark troubled times, we have now grown into a force for creativity, challenging the status quo, and disruptively pushing boundaries. Our innovation has led to numerous achievements and awards, fuelling confidence and reinforcing the solid belief in what we do and what we can achieve.
We grow and support new talent through facilitating learning, showcasing exhibitions, whilst helping to champion our community. Through identifying meaningful and lasting partnerships and relationships, we create genuine, enduring value for artist progression, mental health, and the legacy of our people.
Art is at the heart of everything we do, shaping our dreams and aspirations, communicating universally from grassroots to boardrooms.
Our plans are bold, our strategies are focused, and our values remain true.

Deirdre Robb Bio

“I am a photographer, curator, and arts leader with a passion for using photography as a tool for social change, storytelling, and community engagement. As CEO of Belfast Exposed, I have dedicated my career to championing photography as a means of empowerment, representation, and cultural dialogue.
My practice is deeply influenced by the political, social, and environmental landscapes of Northern Ireland. I am particularly interested in themes of equality, identity, conflict, resilience, and transformation, capturing the complexities of human experience through a documentary approach.
Throughout my career, I have led innovative photography initiatives that support underrepresented communities, including therapeutic photography programmes, cross-community collaborations, and exhibitions that challenge societal norms. I have worked closely with women’s groups, older people, and individuals living with trauma, using photography to amplify their voices and share their stories.
Photography, for me, is more than just an art form, it is a powerful medium for reflection, advocacy, and change. My work ambition is to challenge, inspire, and reflect the evolving narratives of contemporary society.”