Novium Exhibition Press

You might like to see (if a little belatedly!) the excellent press coverage the Chichester Post gave our exhibition at the Novium for the launch last year.

The LATEST exhibition at the Novium Museum is opening tomorrow, celebrating 125 years since The Chichester Photographic Society was formed in 1893.

Chichester Camera Club: A Celebration of People and Places will feature the rich history of Chichester Camera Club and its development over the years.

Drawing from the club’s archives, The Novium Museum’s social history photography collection and contemporary work, this showcase will also explore the way in which the district has been a source of inspiration to club members across a range of photographic genres.

The Chichester Photographic Society was formed in 1893 and active until 1945 and then after a four-year break, was re-formed in 1949 under the name of Chichester Camera Club.

It has continued as such to the present day and is recognised as one of the most successful camera clubs in the country, welcoming everyone with an interest in photography.

Novium Museum manager, Stephanie Thorndyke, said: “We are thrilled to work with the Chichester Camera Club to put on a exhibition of 125 years since they formed bringing together history and photography.

“It’s a beautiful and rich tapestry of photographs with extremely high standards.

“It’s really an exhibition which is made with our local community as all photographers are local and a big part of the exhibition is, too, with a strong focus on the district.

“I hope that visitors will be inspired by our district and the local community will take part and take photographs.”

A very varied exhibition has come together featuring work from the camera club’s archive – including lantern slides from the early days of the club.

As well as a section of contemporary work, a large part of the exhibition contains photographs drawn from across the Chichester district area that show activities, the people and the geography of this diverse area.

Club members have been submitting their images for a while to get the collection together, many drawn from their back catalogues, such as Dave Abbott’s late 1980’s image, for this part of the exhibition.

The wider district community is also being called upon to become part of the exhibition by submitting their own digital photos for inclusion.

Every three weeks, local residents will be asked to respond to a different theme:

people
place
natural world
selfie

Twenty of the best photographs from each category will be selected and displayed digitally within the exhibition. The community will also be able to take part in a monthly caption competition and other interactive elements.

Lorna Brown, former chairman of Chichester Camera Club, says: “This is a wonderful opportunity to work in partnership with The Novium Museum to celebrate our long history and the many ways the area in and around Chichester has inspired our members.”

Cllr Eileen Lintill, cabinet member for community services at Chichester District Council, said: “We live in such a beautiful district, with so much to offer. We look forward to input from the community with their own photos as well as images from members of the Chichester Camera Club, in what will become a highly engaging, collaborative and interactive showcase of the Chichester district.”

Further information on community submissions and the exhibition visit:thenovium.org/cameraclub