The Irish Photo Network 2025
An All-Island Photography Community
Strengthening photography across the island of Ireland
The Irish Photo Network unites artists, curators, and organisations in a collaborative effort to build sustainable futures for photography. Through artist commissions, symposia, training, and research, we create opportunities that reach across borders, strengthen professional practice, and contribute to the cultural life of the whole island.
€5,000 Artist’s Commission
Supporting a publication project in progress, paired with mentoring by curators from the four partner organisations. A dedicated accessibility budget ensures artists from diverse backgrounds are supported.
Symposium - Lens on Change: Exploring Diversity & Climate Action through Photography
A cross-border symposium at Photo Museum Ireland bringing leading creatives together to discuss the current conditions for artistic practice in Irish photography and chart its future, with a clear focus on inclusion and environmental responsibility.
Artist's Survey of Needs
A cross-border, confidential survey mapping the challenges, opportunities, and supports required by photographers today.
The Impact of The Irish Photo Network
Growth Across Arts in Ireland
The Irish Photo Network builds connections that cross borders and disciplines, linking artists, curators, and organisations throughout Ireland. These collaborations share knowledge, expand opportunities, and lay the groundwork for a stronger, more connected photographic community.
Professional Development
The commission and mentoring programme give artists more than funding — they provide structured support to complete ambitious projects and develop new skills. By investing directly in artists’ growth, The Sustaining Futures Artist’s Commission strengthens long-term careers and builds confidence across the sector.
Data for Action
The cross-border Artists’ Survey gathers data on funding, training, sustainability, and working conditions. These insights give artists a collective voice and help shape future policy, advocacy, and support for the sector.
Representation
Accessibility is built into the programme, with a dedicated budget to support artists from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. By ensuring more voices can be heard, the Irish Photo Network reflects the full richness of contemporary Ireland.
Sustainability
This initiative embeds sustainability into the heart of photographic practice, from the subjects artists explore to the methods they use. By highlighting projects that confront climate change and environmental resilience, we connect photography to urgent global challenges.
The Irish Photo Network is a collaborative cross-border initiative of Photo Museum Ireland, Belfast Exposed, Belfast Photo Festival, and Source Magazine.
Photo Museum Ireland
Photo Museum Ireland is the national centre for contemporary photography. With over 40 years of showcasing the best of Irish and international photography, it has over 20 years experience of working on North/South, cross-border, and cross-community projects. It is committed to engaging wide-ranging audiences through the curation and commissioning of artist-in-the-community projects and programmes which combine artists’ work with vernacular photography. Recent projects include a 5-year Reframing the Border programme, and Shared Histories Creative Ireland cross-border project.
Belfast Photo Festival
Belfast Photo Festival presents the UK and Ireland’s largest annual festival of photography and the Visual Arts Festival of Northern Ireland. Launched in 2011, this now annual photographic event has been described as one of the “best photography festivals in the world” (Capture Magazine) and attracts upwards of 100 thousand visitors a year, celebrating some of the finest National and International contemporary photography across 30 museums, galleries and public spaces. The programme consistently addresses the political, social and cultural climate of Belfast, raising global issues and animating them through high-calibre international photography. The 2024 Festival consists of exhibitions, talks, symposiums, workshops, screenings, masterclasses, and portfolio reviews to address the issue of AI.www.belfastphotofestival.com
Source Magazine
Source Magazine is a quarterly photography magazine, available in print and as a digital edition, published in Belfast since 1992. It has been funded by the Arts Council of Ireland since 1998 and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland since 1992 and has a solid track record for the production of a quarterly publication and the management of its Euro189k budget. Its editors Richard West and John Duncan have 52 years experience producing and strategically developing Source across its outputs. Source has a track record of contributing to photographers’ professional development through the critical thinking and analysis that is at the core of the writing that Source commissions and publishes. It offers feedback and advice to photographers through its portfolio review days.www.source.ie
Belfast Exposed
Belfast Exposed is Northern Ireland’s leading photography organisation. For over 40 years it has challenged, shaped and brought meaning to culture and society. Their innovation has led to numerous awards. Disruptively pushing back frontiers, they are growing and supporting new talent through facilitating learning and showcasing exhibitions, whilst helping to champion their community. Through identifying meaningful and lasting partnership opportunities they create genuine, enduring value for artist progression, mental health, businesses and the legacy of our people. Recent projects include the Healing through Photography conference and Chad Alexander’s Entries exhibition. www.belfastexposed.org
The Irish Photo Network is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications & Sport.
Irish Photo Network 2025
