Latest news from Loughborough University
| 31 October 2007 | PR 07/136 |
Women’s contemporary photography group IRIS relocates to Loughborough University
IRIS, the international centre for women in photography, has relocated to Loughborough University, based within the School of Art and Design (LUSAD).
IRIS is a unique collection of photographic images and writing on photography. The collection includes slides, documentation, a sophisticated, remotely searchable database and a website, representing the work of more than 300 contemporary women photographers and writers on photography. Since its inception in 1993 IRIS has undertaken a range of activities and products, including touring exhibitions, books and educational projects.
Founded by two of the country’s leading women photographers, Janet Sleath and Catherine Fehily, IRIS was based at Staffordshire University for 13 years. However, changes to its funding allocation meant the group had to look for a new home earlier this year.
Marsha Meskimmon, Head of LUSAD, said Loughborough was pleased to have been able to house IRIS. “IRIS is the country’s foremost resource for women’s photography and I am delighted that it is now hosted at Loughborough University. I look forward to IRIS building on its achievements as it develops into a truly global organization in the future.”
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For all media enquiries contact:
- Hannah Baldwin, Head of Public Relations, Loughborough University,
T: 01509 222239, E: H.E.Baldwin@lboro.ac.uk
Notes for editors:
- The IRIS web site can be found at www.irisphoto.org
- Loughborough is one of the country’s leading
universities, with an international reputation for excellence in teaching
and research, strong links with industry and unrivalled sporting achievement.
It is a member of the esteemed 1994 Group – a set of internationally recognised, research intensive universities – and has a reputation for the relevance of its work. Its degree programmes are highly regarded by professional institutions and businesses, and its graduates are consistently targeted by the UK’s top recruiters.
Loughborough is also the UK’s premier university for sport. It has perhaps the best integrated sports development environment in the world and is home to some of the country’s leading coaches, sports scientists and support staff. It also has the country’s largest concentration of world-class training facilities across a wide range of sports.
In the 2007 National Student Survey, the University was voted fourth in the UK, with 23 out of 29 of Loughborough’s subject areas being ranked in the top ten for overall satisfaction. Loughborough is also ranked in the top five of UK universities in national league tables and was named winner of the 2006 THES award for the UK’s Best Student Experience. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, the University has been awarded five Queen's Anniversary Prizes – an achievement bettered by no other university.