Royal Photographic Society – New Framework

All Members of the RPS should have received communication now regarding the situation with the new framework, notably that existing criteria will now continue until June 2026 and that a working party has been established to review the feedback on the proposals.

I think we can welcome this more considered and consultative approach, although considerable questions remain over changes and the impact that might have on potential applicants for the RPS distinctions.

Firstly, can I encourage all RPS members to read the email (there’s a link below if you haven’t received a copy) and note especially that everyone who has submitted a portfolio in the past three years for Associate or Fellowship, or since the new Licentiate framework was introduced and it seems, whether successful or not, will be able to comment on the new framework proposals. If that is you, please do respond once the RPS contacts you.

Please also note that the email tells us that, ‘If you have not yet submitted a portfolio and therefore won’t be receiving a survey, but have comments that you would like to make about any aspect of our distinctions programme, we will be providing a link to a form for further feedback on the website (we will notify members via email when this is live and will provide details of where to send the forms).’

You might for instance have views on the removal of the print option at Licentiate level, but whatever your opinion, please do take this opportunity to express you views when it goes live.

Due to the questions over the new framework we suspended our RPS Group hoping for better clarity in the New Year. Our advice was that anyone with a project idea for A or F in a good stage of development should continue with that holds good – as we now have the confirmation that you have into next year to bring that together.

For anyone still looking to settle on a project at A or F or indeed considering a digital Licentiate application, it is worth waiting for further clarity on the new framework, not least as there is a lack of clarity over the support currently available from the RPS on this. There is however a new programme of support expected to be launched in January – February which should benefit those with worked up ideas as well as those still at an early stage.

In the light of all of this, the Club’s RPS group will reconvene on Tuesday 20th January but individual advice will be available to those who have already worked up projects.

The link to the recent communication from the RPS is: –https://content.rps.org/webmail/976613/1579242355/b2fdc8739bb1232baa9220fe5106ec921f239afd2951627c12dddb8b1bda7a0f

Lorna Brown

The featured image is from Michael Palmer’s successful Fellowship panel in the Contemporary category