Bristol Photo Festival Walking Tour

Join us on Saturday 7 November for a guided walking tour of Bristol Photo Festival, led by our curators, alongside special guest Taous Dahmani who co-curated the exhibition One of Many at the Welcome Building.

The tour will include: 

* The Welcome Building – Discover five exhibitions across the building, including:
>> Photo Kegham – Explore the archive of Gaza’s first commercial photography studio, founded in 1944 by Kegham Djeghalian Sr, who arrived in British Mandate Palestine after fleeing the Armenian Genocide with his family.
>> One of Many – Created to mark the 200th anniversary of photography’s invention, this exhibition explores the origins of photography across the Global South, examining its use as a tool of both control and liberation. We will be joined on the day by one of the exhibitions co-curators, Taous Dahmani, who will provide an introduction to the exhibition. 
>> Stray Sod – Created at night in rural locations across Ireland, Maria Lax’s exhibition explores the sensation of being lost in landscapes that once felt familiar, using this experience as an allegory for our contemporary condition.
>> Heat – Presented by the Magnum Foundation, this exhibition explores the impact of rising temperatures and extreme heat on communities around the world, examining the social and environmental consequences of the climate crisis through photography.
>> Common Sense – First presented in 1999, Martin Parr’s influential series captures the details of everyday life, from food and fashion to souvenirs and consumer goods. Using vivid colours, close-up compositions and humour, the exhibition offers a sharp, often satirical look at consumer culture and the visual world around us.
* IC Visual Lab – Home & Exile by George Hallett, curated by Christine Eyene, explores the lives of South African artists, writers and musicians living in exile during the apartheid era.
* KIT FORM – Inherited brings together two Bristol-based artists exploring questions of family inheritance. Kelly O’Brien’s No Rest for the Wicked examines the multigenerational cycles of labour endured by poor and working-class women, alongside the knowledge and social histories passed down between them. Yuko Edwards’ What You See in My Face explores a racially blended family, using archival and contemporary photographs to trace how love, land, stories and identity shift along lines of race and class over time.

Our curators will share insights into the exhibitions as we move between venues, allowing you to experience the festival in depth without worrying about navigation.

Tours last approximately 2–3 hours, moving at the pace of the group, with opportunities to stop for coffee along the way.