Businesses are backing an international photography festival which will focus on developing an arts economy in Hull by bringing in top practitioners from around the world.
Princes Quay Shopping Centre, which will be the hub of the Hull International Photography Festival with its HIP Gallery, has welcomed the event as a key contribution to its efforts to vary the attractions on offer.
GF Smith, the Hull-based paper products specialists who were established 130 years ago, have agreed to continue their support for the HIP Gallery by providing printing and framing services for the festival.
Alan Raw, chief exec of the Creative and Cultural Company and creative director of HIPphotoFest, said: “We are trying to develop an arts economy in Hull. We are always looking for sponsorship and we are very grateful for the support that we do receive.
“We have always worked in partnership as a not-for-profit business and we have never received any public funding. We have a lot to offer prospective sponsors with HIPphotoFest 2015 and with our general work.”
Hull International Photography Festival will take place from October 2–30 and will focus on the HIP Gallery which was opened by the Creative and Cultural Company in Princes Quay last year. It will also feature exhibitions in other venues including the historic St Mary’s Church in Lowgate, the Red Gallery in Osborne Street, Kardomah94 and public libraries in the city centre, the Boulevard and Bransholme.
Tim Berry, commercial manager of GF Smith, said the sponsorship is a perfect fit with the company’s activities and will help to raise its profile but he added that the priority is to support Hull.
He said: “We have been in business since 1885, we employ 200 people and we sell paper all over the world – in 68 different countries. We have several specialist departments including packaging, greetings cards and stationery paper and we are also one of the largest suppliers in the UK to professional photographers and studios.
“So the work of the HIP gallery is a match made in heaven for us but primarily because we are a people company and we strongly believe that without our staff and without staying true to our roots in Hull we would not have been as successful as we are.”
Alan said: “We have helped to breathe new life into some areas of Princes Quay, starting with the old TK Maxx store and then moving to the upper level so we have a lot to offer our sponsors.
“Princes Quay has about 400,000 people a month through here and we have big shop windows. During the last year we have had 50,000 people in the gallery of all ages, and we can also raise a sponsor’s profile through our website and those of our partners, VHEY and Welcome to Yorkshire as well as through local and national media.”
Claire Suggitt, centre manager of Princes Quay, said: “Princes Quay is becoming a multi-purpose facility that visitors are attracted to for a variety of reasons and the HIP Festival is set to bring in thousands of new visitors.”
Kathryn Shillito, HullBID city centre manager, said: “As with all the other festivals, HIPfest 2015 will bring great benefits to businesses both by attracting thousands of people into the city centre and by continuing to raise the profile of Hull and its exciting attractions.”
For further details of the festival visit www.hipphotofest.com
