Photo Oxford

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Photo Oxford Festival is a biennial photo festival exploring contemporary practice as well as the rich history of photography. Next festival autumn 2027.

Photo Oxford 2023 explores The Hidden Power of the Archive. The Festival takes on the history of photography and engages with its future in more than 20 exhibitions and events in historic and contemporary venues across the city. 14 April – 6 May 2023. All exhibitions and many events are free. www.photooxford.org. Photo Oxford is a biannual festival featuring a diverse programme of exhibitions, events, professional development opportunities and a public engagement, in collaboration with partners across the city of Oxford, nationally and internationally. Founded by local photojournalist, Robin Laurance, in 2013, Photo Oxford welcomed over 30,000 visitors to the city of Oxford in 2014. Further festivals were held in 2017 and, in 2020 followed by 2021, we celebrated Women and Photography in venues across Oxford, outdoors and online. Follow us here, on Instagram () and on Twitter () for updates, and sign up to our e-newsletter via our website: http://www.photooxford.org

15/10/2026

It’s one year to go until Photo Oxford 2027 and we couldn’t be more excited!

Our theme for 2027 is TIME.

Photo Oxford 2027 will be a celebration of the role time plays in photographic practice and its complex relationship to the medium.

Whether light is inscribed onto the surface of a copper plate or converted into binary code, it determines what is captured and what is lost forever.

The photographer can preserve fleeting gestures or reach beyond human timescales to record the passage of time.

Between 15 October and 9 November 2027, we will explore this theme through exhibitions, events, talks, tours and workshops.

Save the dates, follow us on our socials, and sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear all about our plans.

08/10/2026

It’s almost time…

Just one week to go until the launch of Photo Oxford 2027!

We’ll be announcing our Festival Theme on October 15th and revealing some exciting new ideas for 2027 with lots of ways to get involved.

Sign up for our newsletter to hear all about our festival plans as they’re announced.

Photos:
1. Etain O'Carroll
2 & 3. Aniella Weinberger Photography
4. Paul Bullivant .f.bullivant

28/09/2026

📸 Want a foothold in the art world? Photo Oxford is looking for a new Associate Trustee!

No board experience? No problem. This is a development role for anyone curious about photography, visual arts, or the creative sector, whether you're a student, practitioner, volunteer, academic, career changer, or building your own creative practice.

You'll get to:
✨ Observe board meetings and contribute to discussions
✨ Get involved in Festival projects and events
✨ Learn about arts governance, fundraising, programming and event production
✨ Build your network in Oxford's creative community

It's voluntary, flexible, and initially for one year. We especially welcome applicants who've had limited access to opportunities, networks, or resources in the arts.

To apply, send a 250-word statement and your CV to [email protected] by 31 December 2026.

Could it be you? Tag someone who'd be perfect for this 👇

For full details see: www.photooxford.org/opportunities

Image: Former Photo Oxford Associate Trustee Tegan Rush at Photo Oxford 2025. Photo: Aniella Weinberger Photography

PhotographyCommunity VisualArts OxfordCreatives ArtsGovernance VolunteerOpportunity CharityTrustee EmergingCreatives

10/09/2026

Photo Oxford offers a very warm welcome to our new Chair, Nick Hough.

Nick was born in Oxfordshire and read for his first degree at what was then Oxford Polytechnic (now Oxford Brookes University) gaining a First in Environmental Biology. He went on to Oxford University to research the Red Fox as a member of the Animal Behaviour Research Group.

Changing tack completely he moved to London and worked in advertising for over 20 years before becoming a brand consultant leading the team that created O2 amongst numerous other projects.

He then joined Frieze Art Fair as Chief Operating Officer and later Christie’s as COO for Europe, The Middle East, Russia and India.

He has also held several non-executive positions with The Photographer’s Gallery, Photo London, Messums Wiltshire and The Russell Maliphant Dance Company.

Nick is passionate about contemporary art and photography, has eclectic music tastes and enjoys football, cricket, playing pickleball and padel as well as cooking, fine w**e and travel.

We are delighted he has taken up this role of Chair and look forward to working with him for the next festival.

Huge thanks to our outgoing Chair Paul Bullivant for all his hard work and support. We are very pleased he will stay on as a trustee of Photo Oxford.

03/09/2026

Huge thanks to Ania Ready and the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum for a wonderful Friends and Patrons tour of Lee Miller: A Woman at War last night.

Ania worked as researcher and curator on the exhibition and walked us through the show with lots of background information on Lee Miller’s life, influences and experiences as well as insightful context about the images.

Some of Lee’s personal effects, including her cameras were also on display and there was even cake baked according to one of her recipes!

If you’d like to join us for other exclusive events, sign up as Friend to join the group.

And if you missed this tour, Ania will be giving another public tour on September 12th. Booking through the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum website.

27/08/2026

New on our blog: Framing Essentials for Photographers

As a photographer hoping to get noticed by gallerists, curators or collectors, your framing choices are almost as important as your work itself.

Frames need to protect your work and ensure their longevity, but they also signal your artistic intent, and need to enhance your work by demonstrating technical excellence as well as visual appeal.

Understanding how to frame your prints as a photographer is essential, and can be crucial in terms of sales.

Our newest blog post looks at the key elements you’ll need to consider from frame materials and glazing to mounts and hinges, and takes you through the choices you’ll need to make to enhance both the longevity and the value of your work.

Image: Paddy Summerfield, The Camera Helps, at the Weston Library during Photo Oxford 2025. Photo: Alex Schneideman

19/08/2026

Did you know Photo Oxford has a Friends programme?

As a friend of Photo Oxford Festival, you’ll join a vibrant creative community of photography enthusiasts, collectors, artists, and media professionals. Along with the connections you’ll make you will also:

🔸 Have access to an annual curator-led tour with behind-the-scenes insight into Oxford’s photographic collections.

🔸Receive advance notice of call-outs and events.

🔸Get an invite to the Festival’s opening and closing celebrations as well as a unique photography-inspired social event designed to spark conversation and collaboration.

Plus:

🔸10% off workshops and year-round events

🔸Priority early-bird access reserved for Friends

🔸Regular updates and newsletters with the latest exhibitions, opportunities, and Festival news.

Join us in celebrating photography, building connections, and growing our shared knowledge. Your support strengthens our network, amplifies the festival’s voice, and enables us to deliver dynamic exhibitions and impactful community outreach initiatives.

Our next event is a curator/researcher-led tour of Lee Miller: A Woman at War at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum on 2 September.

Sign up now to get exclusive access to the tour.

FRIENDS MEMBERSHIP: £40 a year

Photo: Photo Oxford Patrons and Friends event at Christ Church, June 2026. Image: Etain O’Carroll

https://photooxford.org/get-involved

14/08/2026

How do you know how big you should print your images?

Choosing how large to print your fine art photographs is one of the most strategic decisions you’ll make. It affects how viewers engage with your work and their emotional impact.

Bigger isn’t always better, however, and the larger you go, the more technical and logistical hurdles you’ll need to address.

Our latest blog post looks at some of the considerations you'll need to take into account when deciding how large to print your images, and the knock-on effects those decisions have.

For our full guide, click on the Photo Oxford Blog link in our bio.

Image: Steven Meisel's work on display as part of Photo London 2025. Photo: Jane Smith Media

29/07/2026

A warm welcome to our new treasurer Samuel Isaacs.

Samuel is Director of Marketing, Customer Experience and New Products at NIOX Group plc, where he leads global marketing, customer experience and new product development.

He began his career in community media, founding and running Radio Bicester Media C.I.C., a not-for-profit media organisation built around local radio, digital content and community engagement. Since then, his career has spanned marketing, digital innovation, product development and brand strategy.

Creativity has been a consistent thread throughout Samuel’s career. From designing digital experiences and developing new products to photography, he has always been interested in how ideas, technology and visual storytelling can connect with people and create meaningful experiences.

Alongside his professional career, Samuel has a longstanding interest in the charity and community sectors and previously served as a Trustee of Oxfordshire Youth. As a keen photographer with a passion for creativity and visual culture, he is delighted to join the Board of Photo Oxford as Treasurer and support the charity’s continued growth and long-term sustainability.

Samuel Isaacs

23/07/2026

We are delighted to invite our Patrons and Friends to a special evening at the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum (SOFO), Woodstock, on Wednesday 2nd September 5pm-7pm, for a private curator-led tour of Lee Miller: A Woman at War.

You will enjoy special access to the exhibition alongside the contributing curator and researcher, Ania Ready, who will guide us through Miller's extraordinary photographs and share fresh insights into her life, her work during the Second World War, and her lasting influence on photography. It is a rare chance to see this remarkable exhibition through the eyes of the person who brought it to life.

We are proud to support SOFO, an outstanding gallery and museum in the heart of Oxfordshire, whose ambitious programme continues to bring exceptional photography and cultural exhibitions to local audiences.

Following the tour, guests are invited to enjoy a glass of w**e, kindly provided by Grape Minds, an independent Oxfordshire w**e merchant founded in 2018 by friends Graeme Woodward and Michael Jelley. Passionate about sourcing distinctive w**es from independent producers, Grape Minds has quickly established a reputation for quality, expertise and a warm, personal approach.

Places for this private tour are extremely limited and expected to go quickly. Once our allocation is taken, we cannot guarantee further tickets, so we are offering priority booking before any remaining spaces are released more widely. A small reduced admission fee (£7) will apply, helping to cover gallery entry and invigilation costs.

Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage early booking to avoid disappointment.

We do hope you will join us for what promises to be a wonderfully special evening of art, photography and conversation.

Sign up today as a Photo Oxford friend to be part of this exclusive evening event!

https://photooxford.org/get-involved

Or check out our LinkTree. Just click on our bio.

Photo Credit- © Lee Miller Archives, England 2026. All rights reserved. www.leemiller.co.uk and Colin J Morris via Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum

Grape Minds
Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum Ania Ready

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http://www.photooxford.org/

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