For 30 years, Photoworks has championed the power of photography. During that time, the UK-based organization has consistently focused on accessibility, inclusivity, and nurturing emerging voices. Currently leading its mission is Louise Fedotov-Clements, a Director and curator with a bold, community-driven vision that continues to push the boundaries of what a photography organization can be. I caught up with her to talk about this milestone year, how Photoworks is celebrating three decades, and more importantly, how it's preparing for the next chapter.

Photoworks at 30: At a Glance

To celebrate its 30th year, Photoworks has launched a series of standout projects, collaborations and funding initiatives.

Felicity Hammond, *Variations* at Photoworks Weekender.

Felicity Hammond’s Variations is a multi-part installation exploring machine learning, image-making, and extraction. It premiered in 2024 at the Photoworks Weekender and is now touring major venues across the UK in 2025. I had the pleasure of seeing it at the FORMAT International Photography Festival and was impressed by the concept and how Hammond brought it all together.

A new residency with Italian festival PhEST brings an Italy-based artist to Brighton, with new work showcased both in the UK and in Monopoli, Italy.

Photoworks has joined Devonshire Collective, Backlit, and Aspex as a partner in Angelic Rebels, a national programme exploring the legacy of Tessa Boffin (1960–1993)—a pioneering lesbian British artist, photographer, and activist. Through archival research and new artistic commissions, the project will generate fresh critical scholarship on Boffin’s work and teaching. A national touring exhibition will follow, resonating with contemporary conversations on identity and representation.

Photoworks and MPB are launching six R&D Seed Grants to support photographers focused on creative development. The grants, awarded through an open call, can fund training, mentoring, research, equipment, or project start-up costs. The Jerwood/Photoworks Awards return for the fifth edition, with new commissions by Roman Manfredi and Sayuri Ichida, with touring exhibitions planned for 2026.

And there’s more: throughout 2025, Photoworks will continue to roll out programming that spans grassroots education, international exchange, and artist support.

We dive deeper into all of this — plus the ethos behind it — in my conversation with Fedotov-Clements.

Remaining Relevant

A lot has changed in 30 years. Culture, ideology and the way we communicate is vastly different than it was back in 1995. This naturally reflects in how we make, view and share photography.

When I asked Fedotov-Clements how Photoworks manages to stay relevant after three decades, she told me it's all about being "agile, flexible, and present within the scene." Despite being a small team, she explained, their makeup is dynamic: curators, consultants, writers, and practitioners working across socially engaged practice, mentoring, and publishing.

"We’re a developmental organization," she said. "From the core outwards, we’re constantly asking what we can do differently, how we can support the ecosystem and how we can create opportunities for artists at every stage."

Photoworks doesn’t have a fixed venue. Instead, everything is built on partnerships and collaboration. That decision isn’t just practical; it’s philosophical. Fedotov-Clements explained that this approach inherently invites multiple perspectives and allows for a more responsive, grassroots way of working.

From mentoring programs and residencies to summits and debates, the organization brings people together across disciplines and experience levels. "We’re myth-busting, dismantling hierarchies, and enabling emerging artists to participate in whatever way they can," she said.

This commitment to support runs deep. One initiative, Photo Book 101, walks photographers through the often hidden world of making and publishing photobooks. The process is demystified, from design to editing to economics, always with an eye on access and sustainability.

Build your professional photography website with Format — designed by creatives, for creatives. Start your free 14-day trial today and showcase your work with confidence.

Environmental responsibility is also on the agenda. Fedotov-Clements has led the Earth Photo jury for the past three years, an open call exhibition that tours to twenty locations and welcomes photographers and filmmakers from all over the world. "We’re also bringing together major players like the Royal Geographical Society and the Royal Photographic Society to explore how photography can impact the environment and culture more broadly."

That collaborative spirit extends internationally. Photoworks supports global residencies and cross-cultural exchanges, including a project in Chennai, India, where UK artists spent forty days in a darkroom with a local artist, learning from each other and co-creating new work.

"We’re not just trying to stay relevant," Fedotov-Clements told me. "We’re actively shaping relevance…being a catalyst by supporting artists, responding to change, and building meaningful infrastructure that can grow..."

Online Portfolio Surgeries

Photoworks’ online portfolio surgeries are another example of its supportive yet honest ethos. They don’t sugarcoat. Instead, they help photographers align their goals with actionable steps. “It’s about energy; where to put it, and how to keep going, even after rejection,” she explained.

Fedotov-Clements also emphasized that many photographers may have the talent, but not the tools and experience to navigate the professional side of the industry. Things like writing artist statements, applying for grants, or understanding how to frame their work for institutions. “Those parts can feel intimidating,” she said. “We help people understand that they don’t have to do it alone.”

Rather than rip the work to pieces, the goal of online portfolio surgeries is to help photographers think about the long term, larger scope of their career. “It’s about aligning possibilities and thinking about where to focus…” she told me. The aim is to be supportive and always for people to leave portfolio reviews feeling “exhilarated by their own potential.”

Community Building

This dedication to nurturing photographers goes even further. The Photoworks Champions program, made possible alongside Arts Council England funding, brings lasting photography infrastructure to underserved communities.

Now in its third year, the program is embedding creative leads in six locations: Barnsley, Dudley, Blackpool, Portsmouth, Medway, and Gloucester. These leads are people who live in and know the area, and their role is to understand what already exists culturally and build on it. They support local creatives, partner with councils and community centers, and they help artists access funding, mentoring, and space.

Fedotov-Clements shared several success stories: an independent darkroom in Portsmouth received Arts Council funding and will soon open as a permanent space. In Barnsley, a photographers' collective secured an empty shop as their base. In Blackpool, a community darkroom is flourishing.

All the sites host regular events, socials, and workshops. Fedotov-Clements was keen to make it clear this program isn’t about dropping in and jumping out. “It’s about sharing the keys to the gate,” she explained. Photoworks wants to help empower these communities and their artist ambitions. “It's under the Photoworks umbrella…and yes we’re facilitating…but these teams are also putting their own efforts and initiative into it and these communities are growing independently, which is fantastic”.

The Annual

Of course, this year marks a major milestone: 30 years of Photoworks. Their annual reflects that, with editor Diane Smyth weaving together the organization’s greatest commissions, conversations with former directors, and speculation about the future of photography.

"We’re looking backwards and forwards [in this edition]," Fedotov-Clements said. "We’ve supported so many incredible artists. And now we’re also imagining what photography can be in the next 30 years, through the lens of new curators, scientists, technologists, and thinkers." The annual publication is set to launch this October.

A First of its Kind

One of the most striking projects to come out of this vision is a new exhibition at Stonehenge: the first ever contemporary photography show at the iconic site. Three photographers: Sally Barton, Serena Burgis, and Yuxi Hou, created powerful new work with mentorship and support from artists including Hannah Starkey and Hoda Afshar.

Fedotov-Clements explained that the idea began through Photoworks’ ongoing partnership with English Heritage. It was part of a project called England’s New Lenses, which invited young artists to propose dream commissions for English Heritage sites across the country. "…when the open call came back around, the strongest responses were all centered around stone circles in different places…they made such amazing work" she said.

The team worked closely with English Heritage to develop the project further, eventually proposing Stonehenge as the exhibition site.

"We have this amzing relationship with English Heritage, who believed in the idea. They’d never hosted a contemporary photography show before, but they loved the concept. We worked with exhibition designers to create a space within the visitor center that could house the show, and it worked out really well."

The press launch of the exhibition included media coverage via radio and major publications, “That was a really special moment [for Sally, Serena and Yuxi],” she said, with a sense of excitement in her tone. “They’ve all got this beautiful body of work, and to showcase it at Stonehenge…what an amazing launch to their careers.”

Photoworks Festival

Looking ahead, the Photoworks Festival will return to Brighton in 2026. While plans are still on-going, Fedotov-Clements shared that it will remain experimental, participatory, and environmentally conscious. "We’re not repeating old models. We’re exploring what festivals can be in the future, both in physical spaces and beyond." I pressed for further details, but we’re just going to have to watch this space for now until official announcements are ready to go.

What’s clear to me, is that thirty years in, the Photoworks team isn’t resting on legacy. It’s not gatekeeping or demanding an ego stroke. Rather it’s appreciating the present and building the future – one commission, conversation, and community at a time.

You can find more details on up and coming opportunities and events by visiting the Photoworks website.

More reading: 13 Photography Portfolio Examples To Unleash Your Creativity

Want your work featured on Them Frames? Pitch us.

Featured