About
Photoworks champions photography for everyone. We are an international platform, global in reach, and have provided opportunities for artists and audiences since 1995. We do not have a physical venue, but our online channels are always open. Our programme brings new experiences to audiences and opens up new ways to encounter photography.
Photoworks is a registered charity and the only organisation with a national remit for photography in England. Our work is supported by public funding through Arts Council England’s National Portfolio. Photoworks is led by Shoair Mavlian, Director.
Mission
Photoworks champions photography. We are an international platform for artists and audiences, and a registered charity.
Vision
Photography for everyone.
Values
Inclusivity
We strive to be accessible both online and in real life. We are open to all, and everyone is welcome.
Opportunity
We share our knowledge to inspire others, and believe that everyone should have the opportunity to engage with photography.
Responsibility
We take our roles seriously. We care about everyone we work with and about the environments in which we create and operate.
Transparency
We are honest and open and believe in a better, fairer sector for everyone.
Partnership
Working with others to create, facilitate and advocate for photography is at the core of what we do.
Team
Julia Bunnemann
Curator – Maternity Leave (full-time)
Juliette Buss
Learning & Engagement Consultant (part-time)
Natalia González Acosta
Digital Marketing Officer (full-time)
Shoair Mavlian
Director (full-time)
Jonathan May
Deputy Director – Maternity Cover (full-time)
Margot Minnot Thomas
Learning & Engagement, Programme Producer (part-time)
Nadine Persaud
Deputy Director – Maternity Leave (full-time)
Ricardo Reverón Blanco
Assistant Curator (full-time)
Raquel Villar-Pérez
Curator – Maternity Cover (full-time)
We engage freelance workers on a project-by-project basis. Current freelancers include
Adeola Balogun
Bookkeeper (part-time)
Sebah Chaudhry
Project co-ordinator, Picturing England’s High Streets (part-time)
Sabrina Citra
Writer in Residence 2022 (part-time)
Trustees
All our trustees contribute their time on a voluntary basis. We are currently recruiting new trustees to our board, please get in touch via email if you would like to know more about this opportunity.
Monica Allende Trustee
Loren Hansi Gordon Trustee
Richard Burton Deputy Chair
Chris Condron Trustee
Paul Drewitt Trustee
David Knaus Co-Chair
Mel McVeigh Trustee
Andy Simpkin Co-Chair
The Real Living Wage
We are a Real Living Wage employer and we regularly benchmark our salaries with other not-for-profit arts organisations. The annual salary of our highest-paid full-time member of staff is £40,000.
Artists fees
Without artists there is no content for our platforms and no work to display in our exhibitions. In line with our aim to provide opportunities for artists, we have drafted a system of minimum fees based on our current financial capabilities as a not-for-profit charity.
Fees stated are the minimum that we pay. We separately cover other costs, such as travel, production, transport and installation. We are always working to improve the fees that we can offer, and review our fees policy every year.
Some examples of the fees we offer include:
- Jerwood/Photoworks Awards (new work made over 12 months) – £10,000
- Ampersand/Photoworks Fellowship (new work made over 12 months) – £15,000
- Digital commission (new work) – £500
- Group exhibition (existing work) – £400
- Series of images published online in Photography+ (existing work) – £80
- Instagram takeover (existing work) – £80
- Images for Photoworks Annual – £50 single image, £20 per image when printed as a series
- Speakers fee – £100 up to one hour, £150 longer than one hour
- Jury fee – £150. Our jury fees sometimes vary depending on the programme
Volunteering and placements
Like many arts organisations, we sometimes work with volunteers. Photoworks volunteers help to invigilate exhibitions and events, support learning projects and provide excellent experiences for our audiences.
We recognise that volunteering is not an option for everyone. It is our ambition to offer the Real Living Wage for all individuals working with the organisation from 2022. This ambition is part of our fundraising strategy.
