Alex Bamford on: A Year In Brighton – the Brighton and Hove photographic calendar that is a love letter to the city.
Image: Andy Gardner
Hi Alex, During your Open House you will be showing photographs from the much-loved Brighton and Hove Calendar, now in its 27th year. Can you tell us a little about the calendar and its history – especially what extra information the calendar offers for Brighton’s residents and visitors?
The Brighton & Hove Calendar was started in 2000 by Nigel Swallow who went on to open North Laine Photography gallery above Snoopers Paradise in Kensington Gardens. It was his mission to celebrate life in Brighton with affordable photographs. Nigel handed my wife Lisa and I the reins last year. As well as bank holidays and religious festivals, we try to put in as many Brighton related dates as possible, and we publish tide tables (highlighting the very low ones where you can get to walk on the sand).
Image: Paul Cahill
You’re showing the calendar photography at POST Creatives photography studio – would you like to tell us a little about this group and how it came into being?
POST is the brainchild of Simon Roberts and Nina Emett. Simon is a well-respected photographer and Nina is a curator, editor, art director and documentary photographer. They saw a need for a creative hub in Brighton for lens-based artists and pounced when a space came up. POST now houses a black & white darkroom, photographic studio, gallery, and co-working spaces for artists along with holding an expansive library of photo books and running an active public programme of events.
Image: Charlie Clarke
Could you tell us more about the exhibition and what visitors to your Open House can expect to see?
It’s great to be a part of the Christmas Open House trail. The 24 photographers that feature in this year’s calendar are a talented mix of professionals and amateurs. Some of them have never exhibited their work before so we hope it’s a great experience for them. It’s also an opportunity for the public to buy affordable archival prints of their favourite images. There will also be other photographs and books on sale from our friends at POST and wider artistic community
Image: Jamie Smith
Is there a particular theme for the 2027 calendar, and how did you select work for inclusion?
The overall theme, the one that we state in our call for entries, is to show the spirit of Brighton – a celebration of all the weird and wonderful things that happen here. Each month has 4 photos on the page, so we like to create mini themes that hold the 4 images together, either by subject matter or by photographic style.
Image: Jess Richardson
Apart from your Open House, how else can buyers obtain a Brighton and Hove calendar?
The calendar has always been sold from Kensington Gardens and this year will be no exception. We are perched on the corner of Beardman’s stall opposite Resident Records. We are also stocked by City Books in Western Road, Brighton Photography gallery in the arches to the west of the i360 and at Colourstream in St James Street.
Can you tell us a little more about your own work?
My own photographic work is based around long term projects. I’ve been fortunate enough to have some of them featured in the calendar over the years. I’m probably most infamous for my Sleepwalking images, surreal moonlit landscapes with a pyjama clad figure.
Image: Paul Cahill
Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
We would like to thank the many photographers who submitted work. To anyone reading this who would like to submit next year, follow us on Instagram @brightoncalendar or sign up to our mailing list at brightoncalendar.com to hear when the submissions open.
We’re also having a launch night at POST on Fri 27 Nov 2026 18:00 – 21:00, where you can meet some of the photographers involved.
Visit: A Year In Brighton
POST Creatives, 2nd Floor, Industrial House, Conway Street, Hove, BN3 3LW
post-creatives.co.uk
alexbamford.com