FORMAT was established in 2004, by Louise Clements and Mike Brown, and is now one of the UK's leading non-profit international contemporary festivals of photography and related media. The biennale programme celebrates the wealth of contemporary practice in international photography. FORMAT is the place to see an incredible range of new work alongside some of the best-known practitioners in the world. FORMAT is focused on developing opportunities for audiences to see, debate, develop and engage in the best of what photography is and can be. The festival is a unique opportunity to see and engage in contemporary photography and to hear what is happening 'right here, right now'.

The next edition of the festival will be FORMAT 13 taking place in March 2013.

The last edition was FORMAT 11 'Right Here, Right Now': Exposures from the public realm, which was curated around the theme of street photography.

Street photography bridges everything from journalism, documentary, art, film and other genres, the essential ingredients being intuition, observation and the ability to compose with space, time and place.

The festival took place at venues across Derby, UK from 4th March to 3rd April 2011. The diversity and quality of the programme, designed for practitioners and enthusiasts alike, built upon the past four successful festivals. FORMAT 11 was the biggest and best FORMAT yet.

FORMAT 11 included:

Curated Exhibitions (FOCUS), Non Gallery Exhibitions, Open Submission (EXPOSURE), The best emerging international talent, New commissions, Leading international artists, Mass participation, International artist residencies, Web based events, Education and Continued Professional Development activity, Guided tours, DebatesScreenings, vod casts, photoblogs, publications, Summerschool, Professional practice event, Portfolio reviews, Practical workshops and master classes, ConferencePhotography Workshops, Targeted schools activity, Artists Talks and Awards. In the off-years the festival organises a professional practice programme, commissions new work, runs events, exhibitions and a summer school. 

FORMAT celebrates the wealth of contemporary practice in international photography. It is focused on developing opportunities to platform the work of international photographers and providing links for local/national practitioners to show work, exchange opportunities, skills and knowledge. Education, learning and participation in photography and related media are key parts of the festival programme. Projects run throughout the year, during and in the run up to the festival, in local and international communities from Kolkata to Derby and across nearly every country of the world through our online mass participation programmes. The festival is arguably up there with the best in Europe – it was rated among the top 40 in a recent European survey, recognising the quality and ambition of the work. The hub of the festival is QUAD but the festival also curates exhibitions and events in 30 other venues throughout the city and beyond.

FORMAT is curated by Louise Clements and organised by QUAD in partnership with: Derby City Council, Derby University, Derby Museums.

Supported by: Arts Council of England, Magnum, Troika Editions, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Blurb, Foto8, Shoot Experience, New Art Exchange, Aicon, In-public, British Journal of Photography, Photo-Festivals, Photography Archive, Birmingham Library and Archive Services.

FORMAT 11 Festival Patrons: Brian Griffin and Joel Meyerowitz.

To find out more about individual events, past and present, see our Events page.

To buy FORMAT prints, visit our Shop.

If you, or anyone you know, would like to volunteer at FORMAT, find out how to get involved and download an application form here.