Impressions Gallery facts for kids
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| Established | November 1972 |
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| Location | Centenary Square, Bradford, England |
| Founder | Val Williams and Andrew Sproxton |
Impressions Gallery is a special place in Bradford, England, where you can see amazing modern photographs. It's one of the oldest galleries in Europe dedicated to photography! It started way back in 1972 in York and then moved to Bradford in 2007. Besides showing photos, Impressions Gallery also has a bookshop, creates its own books, and sells prints of photographs.
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How Impressions Gallery Works
Impressions Gallery is a charity, which means it's a not-for-profit organization. It gets money from Arts Council England and the Bradford Metropolitan District Council. This funding helps the gallery put on its fantastic exhibitions.
Exhibitions and Shows
The gallery usually has about six new exhibitions each year. These shows often feature the work of one photographer who has been taking pictures for a while. Sometimes, they also have group shows where you can see photos from many different artists.
Books and Publications
Inside the gallery, there's a bookshop where you can find many interesting photography books. Impressions Gallery also publishes its own books and catalogs. These books often go along with the exhibitions they are showing. They sometimes work with other publishers like Dewi Lewis Publishing and Photoworks to create these books. They have published works by photographers such as Melanie Friend, Paul Floyd Blake, Joy Gregory, Anna Fox, Trish Morrissey, and Tessa Bunney.
The History of Impressions Gallery
Impressions Gallery was started by Val Williams and her husband Andrew Sproxton in November 1972. It first opened its doors in York.
Early Exhibitions
The very first exhibition at the gallery featured photos by Martin Parr and Daniel Meadows. It was called Butlin's by the Sea. Another early show was Whitby by Frank Meadow Sutcliffe. Martin Parr and Daniel Meadows continued to show their work at Impressions throughout the 1970s.
Moving Locations
In 1976, the gallery moved to a new spot in Colliergate in York. Then, in 1992, it moved again to Castlegate, which was also in York. Finally, in 2007, Impressions Gallery made its big move to Centenary Square in Bradford, where it is located today.
The Gallery's Archive
In 2013, the gallery's old records and photos, called its archive, were given to the National Media Museum in Bradford. This archive goes all the way back to 1972. It's now part of the National Photography Collection and is called the 'Impressions Gallery Archive'. This was a special event because it was one of the first times a publicly funded photography gallery had its history looked after by a national museum.
Gallery Directors
Anne McNeill has been the director of Impressions Gallery since the year 2000. She helps decide what exhibitions to show and how the gallery runs.
- 1972–1981: Val Williams (founder-director)
- 1972–1977: Andrew Sproxton (founder-director)
- 1981–1986: Frances Middlestorb
- 1986–1994: Paul Wombell
- 1995–1999: Cheryl Reynolds
- 2000–present: Anne McNeill
