Thanks Martin Parr: “Given that Brighton must have the greatest number of photographers after London, I find it astonishing that there has never been an active photography-related centre with a gallery, library and place for photographers to meet. All the more reason to support this endeavour!”

POST is a much-needed creative hub in a city where artists are being priced and forced out. We’ve secured a 3,000 sq/ft industrial unit. Now we need your help to build it —from studio walls to community kitchen. We’re offering limited-edition prints, founding memberships, portfolio reviews & more.

I’ve been off here for a while, busy working on something new, which I can now share! POST is a new artist-led space in Brighton, offering affordable artist spaces, community darkroom, gallery, photographic studio, libary and more. We’ve launched a Kickstarter. Please take a look: bit.ly/4lputVU

Visualising The Brexshit Times. simoncrobertsstudio.metalabel.com/release-4rch

Whilst The Brexshit Times explores the way in which Brexit was reported it could equally be applied to new & controversial language generated by the rise of conservative populism in the US: in Trump’s Washington, words have become weaponised. simoncrobertsstudio.metalabel.com/release-4rch

On this day in 2017 Britain delivered a letter to Brussels confirming Britain would formally leave the EU. In protest of this calamitous decision, I’m releasing the last signed copies of my publication, The Brexshit Times via @metalabel.bsky.social simoncrobertsstudio.metalabel.com/release-4rch

Thought for Friday…

On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Marking the 5th anniversary the Attenborough Centre will be screening 'An Avoidable Loss, A Failure of State'. 📅 11 March, 5–9pm (33 minutes, plays on a loop) www.attenboroughcentre.com/events/5373/...

For my Brighton / Sussex friends - screening of my Covid-19 film tomorrow from 5-9pm. An Avoidable Loss, A Failure of State Tuesday 11 March, 2025 
Attenborough Centre for Contemporary Arts Sussex University Brighton www.attenboroughcentre.com/events/5373/...

A worthwhile read….

Lovely starter pack by @simoncroberts.com for everyone interested in #art & #culture 🧑‍🎨

More depressing - but not unsurprising- news about the state of the arts in the UK: “Working-class creatives don’t stand a chance in UK today, leading artists warn” @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/culture/2025... This should be top of your ministerial red box @lisanandymp.bsky.social

There’s a Gov Consultation on ‘Copyright Law and AI’ going on at the moment. You can complete online consultation: ipoconsultations.citizenspace.com/ipo/consulta... Quite lengthy but really important in terms of future protection for creatives. Deadline: 25 Feb - 1 week to go!

I’ve given my Arts & Culture starter pack a refresh and it’s now full with lots of good peeps, including recently added @rencontresarles.bsky.social @photographyberlin.bsky.social and @pittriversmuseum.bsky.social Happy to create a part 2 if you want to suggest anyone. go.bsky.app/9tbNont

A good offering of accounts to follow courtesy of @photographyberlin.bsky.social

Studio frame swap

I’ve just downloaded @signal.org in anticipation of a move from WhatsApp. Anyone else signed up?

Our next #AI & #Society Salon is soon 🎙️ Join us on 18 February 18:00pm CET for a Salon with @carolinesinders.bsky.social, artist and researcher. Register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/regaining-...

WTF!!!!! More public art heading into private hands.

In that case I present you with this French video telling what we see on the painting (note: the fortune teller is a woman, a detail sadly lost in translation): youtu.be/jjpaQGNCFEk?...

And some additional information on the painting courtesy of @hkeijser.bsky.social

Today’s inspiration: The Oak Tree struck by Lightning or The Fortune Teller by Jan van Goyen, 1638

Just back from another murmuration swim. Totally magical. Here’s a little video from last night to give you some idea of what’s it’s like in there.

Enjoying a cup of Arabic coffee in the English countryside; Devil’s Dyke to be precise. @southdownsnp.bsky.social

Join us on 11 February for a panel at AI Fringe, “Supporting #creative futures in #arts, #culture and #AI”, with @ifow.org at @britishlibrary.bsky.social: dacs.org.uk/news-events/... with @thangamdebbonaire.bsky.social, Victoria Ivanova @serpentineuk.bsky.social, Suhair Khan, @kesterbrewin.com

Calling socially engaged arts practitioners: check out this amazing fellowship opportunity, deadline 24 Feb www.allianceforsociallyengagedarts.org/our-fellowsh... #CultureActionEurope / Fitzcarraldo Foundation / The Audience Agency

Anyone started using the flashes app with BlueSky yet? Interested to know how it’s working for people.

Join me at Photofusion London on March 8th for an intensive photobook making workshop. @photofusionuk.bsky.social An insightful one-day course dedicated to the art of creating photobooks. More details: www.photofusion.org/store/p/thep...

Checking some new prints down at the lab today; always love this moment, especially when prints are at this scale. Trialing a Japanese inkjet paper for my new series ‘After London’.

Thanks for the amazing response to yesterday’s seascape I posted. If you liked that, why not bookmark www.adailysea.com? A daily photograph looking out to sea from Brighton, which I began on 19 March 2020 when the Covid-19 lockdown in the UK was announced, and continued almost daily for a year. 😎

Here's one made on 12 January just before 9:00 in the morning. I've posted it before but it's worth doing so again. It's a phone shot because that what was in my hand at that moment.

Always interesting to hear @clarestrand.bsky.social. I’m a big fan of her wildly original photographic practice.

I never tire of this view: English Channel from Brighton seafront. Happy Saturday all.

This is shocking.

Murdoch to Musk and the Evolution of Journalism Don't miss this exclusive podcast episode with Byline Times co-founder @peterjukes.bsky.social and editor-in-chief @hardeepmatharu.bsky.social. Premieres at 19:00 tonight! Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG6u...

Really interested in this new publishing platform for creatives. Check them out. And here’s one of their recent releases….

Morning.

If you’re a photographer, and your new here, as ever Andy Adams has you covered, check out his Flakphoto list….

ICYMI: Nick Cave picks his Desert Island Discs

Great to find @dacsforartists.bsky.social here. Follow them and don’t forget to register for your artist payback royalties by 14 Feb. See link below.

Today’s location

This just popped up in my timeline: it's the 1987 documentary on surrealism that I refer to in my Patreon piece, the first time any of us got a glimpse of Blue Velvet! Little did we know what was to come. vimeo.com/1048046353

Jorg Colberg @hotelamnesia.bsky.social is the latest edition to my arts and culture starter pack who many of you will know from his Conscientious blog: cphmag.com

Respect to @theeuropeans.bsky.social for ditching Instagram. He’ll be an important figure here on #bluesky to follow, if you’re not already.

Great stuff! And if you have any suggestions of others who could be added, let me know 🤘

Great to see many more creatives jumping into this space. I’ve created a starter pack to help newbies connect quickly with others… go.bsky.app/9tbNont

Like a scene from the apocalypse, displaced Palestinians return to what’s left of their homes near Gaza City as the truce comes into force. The scale of the devastation wrought is unimaginable, and the project to rebuild is staggering. At least this is a moment of hope. Photo by Omar Al-Qattaa

UK creatives who hate AI - read this please! The government is doing an open consultation on copyright and AI, which will inform how it goes about integrating AI (or not) into various plans to 'grow the economy'. You can respond online, please take a look and share this. www.gov.uk/government/c...

At least the thieves are honest about their intentions these days!