Nicholas Holt – a photographer and creative director based in the High Peak area of NW England – talks about his involvement with the upcoming Dark Peak Photography Festival 2024.
Nicholas reached out to Hatter Editions asking if we would like to get involved in the printing side of the Photography Festival. We jumped at the opportunity to support this local (to us) initiative. So we are the print sponsors for the first Dark Peak Photography Festival 2024... We couldn't be happier!
But we thought we would get the low down off Nicholas himself as to how he got involved in the Dark Peak Photo Festival 2024... Read on to find out.
In Nicholas' own words:
I first became interested in curation during my MA in Photography at UAL, when I collaborated on a book project with the Lee Miller Archives. After hearing that photographer Carys Kaiser wanted to start a photography festival in my hometown of Glossop, I was keen to be involved in the curation of the festival. We were soon joined by photographer Vikki Rutter – plans were hatched over copious amounts of coffee in the Pico Lounge, and we officially launched the festival website in November.
The Dark Peak Photography festival will run from 22nd to 25th February 2024, in the market town of Glossop, on the edge of the Peak District. The festival’s theme is NOW & THEN – reflecting on the changes that time brings, the nature of memory, and the lessons to be learned from history. We have invited artists to respond to this theme, alongside archival projects from the Dark Peak area. We want visitors to immerse themselves in a wide range of exhibitions, workshops, and talks to celebrate and investigate the Dark Peak area – past and present.
From a personal point of view, it's exciting to be able to put together a small but ambitious festival featuring practitioners such as Paul Hill, Melanie King, Ciara Leeming, Kate Bellis, and Bill Stephenson. I have been pleased with the support that we have received from the photography community and the kindness of local organisations and businesses. With this support, we are working to bring an inspiring visual arts festival to the foot of the Dark Peak.
The festival programme is still developing and expanding, so please sign up for the email list at darkpeakphoto.com
Many thanks to Lewis at Hatter Editions for sponsoring this festival.