WHAT IS PHOTO - CANOPY?

Photo -Canopy is an in house art programme at BSDC designed to bring student’s and professional artists together to create contemporary work in response to The NATIONAL FOREST. By working with established artists and staff at BSDC student’s gain a unique insight into working and exhibiting as professional photographers and artists whilst exploring their local area, gaining awareness of the National Forests history and evolution and also expanding the creative scene in Burton and the surrounding areas.

Photo -Canopy began as a photography residency project in 2011 -2014, which involved several photographers producing work in response to The National Forest. However, the project is now 6 years on and has expanded to encompass all creative areas. In 2016 Emma J. Lannie wrote three beautiful stories entitled ‘Echo Chamber’, ‘While The Forest Holds Its Breath’ and ‘Guardian of the Tower’. These were recorded and played at the 2016 private view and Emma also read one of the stories aloud. In 2018/19 the residency was handed over to our HE creative learners who responded in a variety of ways; painting, traditional and fine art photography, graphics and video/sound. Photo Canopy offers a residency opportunity biannually and has begun archiving the work produced. In turn, we exhibit in the years that sit between the biannual FORMAT FESTIVAL held in Derby. BSDC student’s get the chance to produce work each year in response to one of the two open calls. Our current OPEN CALL encourages not only photographers, but graphic designers, fine artists, painters, moving image makers, performance artists, sculptors and writers.

“So many folk tales, songs and stories are set in the forest. It’s at the heart of so much of our creative output. And Photo-Canopy is a part of that, exploring themes of regeneration, landscape, nature, and the still-urban spaces that exist within this ever-evolving ‘Forest in the Making’.”

— EMMA J. LANNIE