The Photo Imaging Council (PIC) has announced that its members have pledged £100,000 in sponsorship to support National Photography Month, a major new initiative to be held across the UK in June 2012.  The first such initiative of its kind in the UK, National Photography Month aims to encourage the nation both to get more involved in photography and to explore new ways to ‘capture and keep’ life’s most important moments. Organised by the PIC and Photo Marketing Association, the initiative is supported by organisations from the photographic community including the Royal Photographic Society and National Geographic.

PhotoImaging Council Press Release

PIC members pledge £100,000 to support National Photography Month 2012

- PIC Members pledge support for major new initiative to run during June 2012

- National Photography Month will be the UK’s first event of its kind dedicated to celebrating the value of photography

- Funds will support nationwide initiatives including a schools project and ‘Capture and Keep’ touring bus

The Photo Imaging Council has today announced that its members have pledged £100,000 in sponsorship to support National Photography Month, a major new initiative to be held across the UK in June 2012.

The Photo Imaging Council and the Photo Marketing Association work together to connect the imaging community with a network of knowledge and support in order to enhance business success and develop new technologies.

The first such initiative of its kind in the UK, National Photography Month aims to encourage the nation both to get more involved in photography and to explore new ways to ‘capture and keep’ life’s most important moments. Organised by the Photo Imaging Council and Photo Marketing Association, the initiative is supported by organisations from the photographic community including the Royal Photographic Society and National Geographic.

Funds pledged by PIC and PMA members will go towards financing NPM initiatives such as the World’s Largest Family Album – a project collating the UK’s favourite family snaps, which will be unveiled to mark the launch of the NPM – and a special tour bus which will travel the country holding photography workshops and seminars.

Since the creation of National Photography Month was first announced (full details at end of release), a new education programme has also been added to the list of events. Highlights will include:

A Month in the Life of Our School - an expanded Colliers Green Focus scheme:
Colliers Green Focus is a nationwide schools programme funded by Colliers International which encourages children aged 11-14 to record a month in the life of their school through photography - preserving a snapshot of their environment for years to come. At the end of the National Photography Month, schools will be encouraged to create a permanent project archive as a valuable resource for future generations of students.

London College of Creative Arts’ Capture & Keep week:
In London, the College of Creative Arts is planning a week of activities to include an open weekend , the ‘Capture and Keep e-Fair (a micro art fair for all the family), a Student Exhibition, an Interactive Project, Student Master classes, Children’s Outdoor Cyanotype Workshop with No.where, the not-for-profit arts organization based in Tower Hamlets, and talks and discussions based around the title: ‘Debris – The Photograph as Document’.

David Honey, Chairman of the Photo Imaging Council says:

I am really encouraged by the rapid uptake by PIC and PMA members and their enthusiasm for National Photography Month. The industry should feel quite proud!  We see National Photography Month as one of the most important initiatives supporting British photography at ground level to be staged in recent years. The events taking place next June provide fantastic opportunities for sponsors and supporters, from those directly involved in the photographic industry to high street businesses and supermarkets - and we hope those members’ who have already pledged their contributions will help get the ball rolling for other organisations to get involved.’

Sponsors looking to support National Photography month should contact Nigel McNaught at the Photo Marketing Association (01438 840 367; [email protected]) or Peter Welch at Kallaway (020 7313 6275; [email protected])

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