REPORT 2024
The company’s activities and impact
How our activities benefited the community in the financial year
During the last financial year, Lakeside Darkroom and Studio has continued to strengthen its role as a vital creative hub in Thamesmead, providing accessible facilities, training, and community engagement opportunities for photographers and visual artists. Our activities are designed not only to sustain analogue photography practices but also to create meaningful connections, skills development, and collaborative growth among participants.
Internship Programme
A cornerstone of our impact has been the Lakeside Darkroom Internship Programme, which supports 4–6 interns every three months. Interns benefit from a structured combination of:
Technical training in analogue processes, including black & white and colour film processing, hand printing, and alternative techniques such as liquid emulsion, cyanotype, and pinhole photography.
Studio lighting practice and darkroom time for personal projects.
Mentoring sessions and collaborative exhibition opportunities.
In 2024 alone, we hosted four group exhibitions showcasing interns’ work, including events at the Lakeside Centre Open Studios and our in-house showcase Musings. These exhibitions gave emerging artists professional exposure, strengthened their portfolios, and encouraged peer-to-peer learning. Many interns have continued to collaborate with one another beyond their placements, demonstrating the long-term value of this programme.
Workshops & Public Engagement
We delivered a broad programme of workshops designed to open analogue photography to a wider audience. Highlights included:
Cyanotype workshops exploring printing on diverse surfaces such as fabric and wood.
Film processing and darkroom hand-printing sessions, bridging entry-level and advanced skills.
Specialist collaborations such as the Colour Reversal Process and Plant-Based Developers, introducing participants to rare, innovative, and eco-friendly techniques.
These workshops attracted both local residents and London-wide participants, many of whom were women and recent graduates seeking affordable access to facilities that are typically out of reach in professional darkrooms.
Photo Bites – Community Brunches
We established Photo Bites, a monthly creative brunch where artists share projects, exchange feedback, and build supportive networks. These informal gatherings (held on the last Saturday of each month) have quickly become a “creative oasis,” offering constructive critique in a safe and encouraging environment. Sessions typically host 6–10 participants, making them intimate enough for meaningful discussion while fostering continuity through follow-up meetings.
Collaborations and Partnerships
The past year has seen growing collaborations with local artists, resident practitioners at Bow Arts, and organisations such as The Photographers’ Gallery, and Rosetta Arts. These partnerships amplify our visibility and help us connect local practice with wider networks in London’s photographic community.
Accessibility and Affordability
Unlike many professional darkrooms, where a single session can cost £50–100 per day, we provide affordable memberships and open access. In 2024 we launched an unlimited £75-£50/month membership model, ensuring artists from diverse backgrounds—especially emerging female photographers—can continue their practice without financial barriers.
Overall Impact
Through exhibitions, workshops, internships, and community events, Lakeside Darkroom has provided:
Affordable access to specialist facilities.
Hands-on training and mentoring for emerging artists.
Opportunities for professional presentation of work.
A supportive and inclusive community space for creativity and collaboration.
Our commitment to analogue photography extends beyond the technical: it creates a culture of respect, trust, and shared growth, allowing artists to thrive together in an environment that values both tradition and innovation.