I love Side Gallery

I'm going to be honest, I don't go to a lot of photography exhibitions. I would like to visit more, I would just rather be outside making photographs and there aren't enough hours in the day. But when I am in Newcastle I often find the time to visit the Side Gallery. 

And I never leave disappointed, although I am often disturbed, at a minimum my grey matter is churning. In an age when we are surrounded by images, the Side manages to curate and exhibit some amazing documentary photography. Often NE England based, they also show the work from many international documentary photographers. It is often bleak viewing, the debate at The Journal Newspaper  is quite interesting as it shows what many people think of  the Side Gallery, but to generate that level of debate means it has an impact.

For some obscure reasons the Arts Council have decided to cut their funding of the Side Gallery. There is a petition against the ACE funding cuts, please consider signing it, and if you have never been to the Side, then take a visit.