Acquisition of archive material
In 2010 the Library of Birmingham acquired an extensive archive of material by John Blakemore, widely regarded as one of the finest photographers and printers in the United Kingdom.
This was made possible through grants from:
- the Art Fund
- the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) / Victoria and Albert (V&A) Purchase Grant Fund
- the Friends of the National Libraries.
The acquisition enables the Library of Birmingham to document, display and disseminate knowledge about:
- the rise of independent photography in Britain in the 1970s
- the related debates about photography as an autonomous means of self expression within the field of the visual arts
The acquisition also enables the library to further fulfil the aim, stated in our acquisition policy, to become the major repository documenting the important role which Midlands-based photographers have played in the history of British photography.
"I like the idea of my archive, having become used to the idea that I have such a thing, being housed close to my birthplace, and to the areas where the bulk of the work has been made.
John Blakemore 2008