Curator of Film and Photography

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Amber Film & Photography Collective came together in 1968 and moved to North East England the following year. It has documented the lives and landscapes of the region’s working class and marginalised communities ever since. We opened Side Gallery & Cinema in 1977 to showcase the best in documentary. The AmberSide Collection holds over 20,000 photographs and 100 films. It has grown out of the work the group has produced, commissioned, supported and shown for over 50 years. In 2011, the cultural significance and value of the work of founder member and photographer Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen, alongside that of Amber Films, was recognised by UNESCO, being awarded inclusion in their Memory of the World Register.

Through Side Gallery’s exhibition programme, we seek to bring the best in documentary photography and film to the region and to our audience. Crucial to the success of this, is a wide-ranging approach to the selection, programming, curation and delivery of the exhibition and engagement programme. In 2021, we seek to expand the curatorial voice and influence governing these decisions by creating a new Curatorial Advisory Group(CAG). The CAG will include experienced curators and representatives from all departments of Amber (above) and in addition, be enhanced by the inclusion of passionate and enthusiastic representatives.

The Group will meet remotely via the Zoom platform on a quarterly basis, therefore we welcome applications from outside the region, extending internationally. The Curatorial Advisory Group will:

Critique regular submissions for exhibition received by Side Gallery
Nominate artist’s work for programming consideration
Nominate contemporary themes, topics and issues for exploration and future programming
Advise on Audience Development and Engagement initiatives for current and future programming
Consult on future partnerships & collaborative relationships

The positions will be initially offered on a 12 month basis and will require quarterly attendance at the CAG meeting. A stipend of £200 per meeting will be offered to cover preparation (to include advance perusal of relevant material) and attendance.