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About

NEPN was established in 2009 to discuss and support the development of photography and photographic research in the North East of England and beyond.

Working with photographers, artists, curators and a wide range of cultural partners, we aim to create a lively and informed context for photographic activity and to encourage new audiences for photography.

NEPN is hosted by and is a research initiative of the Northern Centre of Photography and the Photography Research Group: Bridging Photographies, Cultures, Communities in the Faculty of Education, Society and Creative Industries, University of Sunderland, UK.

Dow Wasiksiri, Encountering the Past

With our partners, we produce new opportunities for photographers through commissions, exhibitions, talks and discussion groups. We curate a programme of themed symposiums and conferences to explore ideas and inspire fresh thinking in photography. We work with emerging and established photographic artists to enable the production of new work and the exchange of ideas.

In 2013, NEPN curated and produced the region’s first international photography festival, The Social: Encountering Photography and has supported photographers through our commissioning and advice programmes such as DEVELOP and SHIFTS.

Since 2024, NEPN has been a key partner in Museum Dialogues, a trans-national research network which aims to bring together a community of researchers, archivists, curators, museum workers and artists to exchange of innovative solutions, inquiries and practical challenges relating to the exhibition, collection, and interpretation of photography.

NEPN was the recipient of a Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence, awarded by the Higher Education Academy, in recognition of its work in connecting pedagogy and professional practice, engaging students of the Northern Centre of Photography with the photographic and wider cultural sector and NEPN’s offer.

NEPN is a member of Art Network North East: https://anne.art/

NEPN Team
NEPN is programmed and managed by Amanda Ritson. Amanda has over 15 years of experience in arts management and production, curatorial brokerage, commissioning and professional development for photographers and artists, working across higher education and cultural sectors. Strategic support is provided by Dr Alexandra Moschovi, Professor of Photography and Curating; Dr Carol McKay, independent writer and curator (University of Sunderland until Autumn 2024); Arabella Plouviez, Professor Emerita of Photography. Specialist Photographic and Exhibition Production: Michael Daglish and Stephen Turner.

History
NEPN was established by photographers and researchers at the Northern Centre of Photography, University of Sunderland. The Centre has a long history of commissioning critically-engaged photography, and creating a space for photographers, curators and researchers to come together for critical discourse and peer networking. In 2003, the team led by Professor Emerita Arabella Plouviez and Emeritus Professor John Kippin, established the International Photography Research Network (IPRN), working with a range of international partners to facilitate intercultural dialogue and photographic exchange.

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