London hotel exhibits Ravensbourne students’ photography

Ravensbourne University London BA (Hons) Digital Photography students have the opportunity to win a six-month residency in a photography studio housed by the Montcalm East Hotel following its grand opening in May 2021.

Thanks to a new partnership, Montcalm East will feature an exhibition of photographs taken by Ravensbourne students and alumni when it opens its doors on 17 May 2021. In addition to the usual hotel facilities, it will also house a studio for a photographer-in-residence, who will be picked from our current cohort of final-year students.

Based in Shoreditch, Montcalm East will be ‘part hotel, part East London creative hub’. A member of The Autograph Collection group of hotels, its striking façade was inspired by Tate Modern artist Bridget Riley and her 1980s geometric pop art.

Students will pitch for the residency in June, with three winners selected in the first phase of the collaboration. The first winner will take up a six-month residency from July to December 2021, with the second taking up residency from January to June 2022. The third will win a commission to shoot images for a permanent display.

The hotel’s in-house gallery will change every six months, featuring new rounds of works from Ravensbourne students and alumni. In the first exhibition, works of students Daniel Sharbanov, Tilda Power and Kirsty Wood will be presented, alongside Ravensbourne alumni Nico Froehlich, Sabela Peinado, Louise Lilburn and Amelia Shelbourne.

The first exhibition features photos centred on the theme of ‘building a better future’. Students were challenged to explore and rethink social, cultural and economic norms in a world dealing with and recovering from Covid-19.

Geraint Cunnick, course leader for Digital Photography, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to partner with Montcalm East and offer a space for alumni and current students to exhibit work, as well as work as a resident photographer. The hotel itself is an exciting space – a landmark building deep in the heart of the creative quarter of the city and a fitting backdrop for our students to demonstrate their creative thinking and photography abilities. I am really looking forward to seeing the results of this collaboration.”

Eliana Athanasiou, marketing manager for the Montcalm Group, said: “We wanted to celebrate the diversity of perspectives and creativity for which the area is renowned, and inspire guests to awaken their own expression. Through our events, visual art exhibitions and partners, we have designed a programme that gives people the opportunity to immerse themselves in the local area and emerge as the creator of their unique experience, something we want to capture across all properties in the Montcalm Group.”

Ravensbourne's brand new Digital Photography top up (year 3 entry) launches in September 2021. This one-year, online level six award is the flexible choice for final-year photography students.