Marketing Derby backs major international photography festival

Marketing Derby is backing the launch of a major international photography festival, which is due to take place in Derby next year.

The inward investment agency for the city and county is sponsoring the press launches for FORMAT23, the first of which was held in London last night.

Taking place in March, the festival is organised by QUAD in partnership with the University of Derby, with support from Arts Council England, Derby City Council and multiple partners from the UK and abroad.

As well as backing the press launches, Marketing Derby is also providing the City Lab, in St James Street, as a FORMAT23 venue.

John Forkin, managing director of Marketing Derby, said: “FORMAT is recognised as one of the UK’s leading photography festivals, and it was this – plus its genuine credibility internationally – which led to Marketing Derby being a proud sponsor.

“Investors are attracted to places which have an open, outward-looking mindset with a dynamic cultural buzz, and, in this regard, FORMAT is one of our aces in the pack.”

FORMAT is the UK’s leading international contemporary festival of photography and related media.

It organises a year-round programme of international commissions, open calls, residencies, conferences and collaborations in the UK and internationally.

And it welcomes more than 200,000 visitors from all over the world to Derby, to look at the very best photography and lens-based media.

Since the first FORMAT took place in Derby in 2004, the biennial festival has featured more than 25,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries. It has also attracted over a million visitors.

Taking place at venues around Derby from 16 March to 9 April, the 2023 festival is called FORMAT23: What Photography Can Be.

Across 12 venues, more than 200 artists from 55 countries will present work that examine themes that matter now – water scarcity, migration, identity, and the implications of climate change.

It will feature exhibitions hosted by key Derby cultural organisations, including QUAD, Déda, Artcore and Derby Museums.

It will also revitalise repurposed buildings and public places, celebrating work by a worldwide community of artists.

Notable exhibition projects as part of the festival include Radical Souls at QUAD that will focus on global dance genres and notions of self-identity.

The London press launch was one of two press launches for FORMAT23 – with the Derby launch set to take place tomorrow at QUAD.

The London launch took place at Forma HQ, after FORMAT23 joined forces with the arts organisation on its latest commission – a nationwide production by renowned photographer Oliver Chanarin.

Forma, the lead commissioner and producer, has collaborated with nine further UK institutions to realise this ambitious new work.

Announced at the FORMAT23 London launch, the work will be exhibited at Derby Museums’ Museum of Making in March.

For more information about FORMAT23 visit www.formatfestival.com.