Every picture tells a story

In Digbeth's Custard Factory there is a sign close to a pool reflecting the city around it, which proudly proclaims the City is a Work of Art.  The Library of Birmingham's new Photography Exhibition, http://www.libraryofbirmingham.com/blog/News/photographerswall, aims to highlight the city's photographic hub and reflect the city as the picture through the display of the photographic talent of the West Midlands.

The Library of Birmingham has over 2 million photographs and is the only UK public library to hold a national collection of photography.  Collections include Sir Benjamin Stone, Francis Frith, Francis Bedford, and Vanley Burke.

The exhibition space has been established to feature the work of established and emerging fine art photographers and showcase the photographic talent in the West Midlands.  The exhibition space supports GRAIN, the photography hub and network, established to strengthen and sustain photography in the West Midlands through research and development projects, http://grainphotographyhub.co.uk/about-grain/about-grain/ 

Meanwhile across the city in Balsall Heath Some Cities is a project launched in November 2013, http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/local-news/birmingham-some-cities-initiative-launched-6309401, which aims to produce a contemporary and interactive photographic archive of the City of Birmingham using photographs taken by residents, workers and visitors, http://www.some-cities.org.uk/

The project is more than just about submitting photos to the archive and is supported by Arts Council England, the University of Birmingham, mac Birmingham and Birmingham City Council with screenings, talks, workshops and exhibitions.  The project aims to create dialogues with opportunities for photographers as community researchers developing their photographic skills and through self-discovery, community building and integration to tell stories.