Photo: from the series Strictly, 1991. Jason Evans. Courtesy of the artist.
The first Brighton Photo Biennial, possibly the UK's biggest celebration of photography begins this weekend and will continue throughout November.
Based at several venues around the city, the festival brings a vast array of work by international artists to the south coast for an ambitious programme of shows, talks and education projects.
To mark the event the 24 Hour Museum has put together a trail of some of the UK's top photographic collections.
Click on this link to explore Life Through The Lens: A Photography Trail.
A particularly appropriate venue for the event, Brighton and Hove has long been a supporter of this modern art form. Back in the 19th century, the popular seaside resort was full of 'photographic institutions' taking advantage of the light to produce souvenirs for holidaymakers, proud parents and even royalty.
As Tate Director Nicholas Serota, whose organisation is one of the event sponsors, explained: "Just the moment and just the place for a big event which celebrates and examines the role of the camera in all our lives."
Photo: Untitled (2002 - 3), Peter Fraser. Courtesy of the artist.
Set to be an all encompassing, eclectic affair, events range from a blockbuster show at Brighton Museum & Art Gallery to a specially commisioned video installation and series of public art works.
As part of his Wind Blown Cloud Project, artist Alec Finlay has invited members of the public to contribute a slide to his ongoing archive. The most beautiful will be made into flags and flown from poles along Brighton seafront throughout the biennial.
Meanwhile at Brighton Museum, Make Life Beautiful! The Dandy in Photography traces the social development of the city since the Regency period through the figure of the dandy. Making their way through streets, drawing rooms and photographic studios, we see fashion lovers from the mid 19th century to the present.
The impressive line-up of featured artists ranges from the historic to the contemporary, including the likes of Cecil Beaton, Claude Cahun, Andy Warhol and Sam Taylor-Wood.
Elsewhere at the University of Brighton Gallery The Inconsiderable Things brings together the disparate work of a sculptor and photographer.
Photo: Untitled (2003), Boris Mikhailov. Courtesy of the artist.
While at Phoenix Gallery, an open submission show, To Be Honest, features images sent in from local, national and international photographers.
The event is being supported by Tate, V&A and National Portrait Gallery in London, the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Biblioteque Nationale in Paris. Local support comes from The Argus newspaper, Arts Council England, Bloomberg, Brighton & Hove City Council, Spectrum Photographic and both Brighton and Sussex Universities.
Brighton Photo Biennial Exhibitions in full:
Make Life Beautiful! The Dandy in Photography - Brighton Museum & Art Gallery (October 24-January 11)
Parade - Fabrica, a solo exhibition presenting a new video installation by Mark Leckey (October 24-November 30)
The Inconsiderable Things - University of Brighton Gallery (October 25-November 26)
Boris Mikhailov - Gardner Arts Centre (October 26-November 23)
To Be Honest - Phoenix Art Gallery (October 24-November 29)
Deimantas Narkevicius - St Peter's Church, a new film created as part of the nationwide Art and Sacred Places scheme (October 23-November 23)
Harlemville - Towner Art Gallery, a series of photographs by Clare Richardson (September 6-November 16)
Lewes - Towner Art Gallery, video installation by Chris Dorley-Brown and Markus Hansen (September 6-November 16)
Magali Nougarede - De La Warr Pavilion, a series of close up observations of clothing (from October 25)
For those of you who can't make it down to the south coast over the next month, we've put together a trail of venues all over the country where you can see great photography.
Just click here to have a look at Life Through The Lens: A Photography Trail and find your nearest photographic collection.
