Bristol Community Darkrooms
managed by the Real Photography Company
The Real Photography Company are a Bristol-based Community Interest Company incorporated in July 2017, managing Bristol Community Darkrooms at St Pauls Learning Centre, in the heart of Bristol.
​Coming up -
Saturday 29th March - Partial eclipse viewing - M32 Flea Market in Eastville
Sunday April 27th - World Pinholeday Events. Workshops and free talk
We aim to revive and refresh traditional and experimental photography, with a programme of exciting courses, workshops, exhibitions and community photography projects.​​ Our high quality Community Darkroom facilities are available 7 days a week for individual or group bookings by photographers in Bristol and beyond, at affordable rates with a low cost Membership scheme and free inductions. ​​​
Celebrate World Pinhole Day! Sun 27 April
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Pinhole Portrait Workshop (morning)
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Pinhole Portrait Workshop (afternoon)
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Free Talk - New Light through an old Hole
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Develop your film and make prints at our excellent darkroom facilities available for black and white and colour use, with large UV printing bed for cyanotype etc. Open 7 days a week, individual or group hire available.
Affordable Darkroom Membership is just £50 per year, which gives all members discounted darkroom hire rates of only £12 per 3 hour session; non-members rates are £20 per 3 hour session.
We ask everyone to attend a short free Darkroom Induction,
prior to booking Darkroom sessions - held monthly, with a full introduction and guided tour of the darkrooms.​
Previous funded Community Photography Projects include:
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Chemistry of Light Schools Project, Nov - Dec 2024, 10 workshops in cyanotype and pinhole photography with 5 local primary schools, funded by the Royal School of Chemistry.
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​Volunteer Recruitment and Training Project, Sept - Oct 2024. Funded by UWE to engage UWE students in Community Photography projects
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​What is Recovery? Series of experimental photography workshops for wellbeing with people in recovery from alcohol and drugs misuse, May to July 2024. Funded by the Care Forum.
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Winter Warmer Photography Workshops - 3 free Experimental Photography workshops for wellbeing in the cosy Darkrooms in Jan / Feb 2024, followed by hot lunch. Funded by Places for People in response to the ongoing cost of living crisis.
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Discovering Light Workshops with five local primary schools, Oct 2023 to Jan 2024, funded by the Ogden Trust.
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See Radio Bristol Feature on Primary School Science Workshops - 19/11/24
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Winter Warmer Photography Workshops - 12 free workshops from Jan to March 2023, supported by Quartet.
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Eclipse Experience Event on 25 Oct 2022 to enable safe viewing, understanding and enjoyment of the partial eclipse, funded by the Institute of Physics.
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Windrush Community Project - Ran from Windrush Day, June 2021 to June 2022, funded by a Windrush Grant and Bristol City Council, to commemorate, celebrate and learn about the many ways the Windrush Generation have contributed to Bristol's culture.
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Alternative Outdoor Photography Project, Summer 2021, a series of workshops with the public and local youth and community groups, making experimental images using plants and sunlight, funded by Quartet.
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Photography Lockdown Project 2020 - Zoom workshops for anyone wanting to experiment with pinhole photography, solargraphy, anthotypes, cyanotypes and chemigrams to make creative images during the Covid pandemic. Funded by the Arts Council.
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Chemistry Workshops with local schools, 2019 - 20, Cabot, Glenfrome, St Werburghs, St Barnabus and Evergreen, funded by the Royal School of Chemistry.
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Photo-Social Project 2019 - 20 bringing people together for a variety of workshops, talks, exhibitions and other events, funded by the Big Lottery,
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Photography course, workshops and exhibition in 2019 - 20 for the Over 50's Inner City Photographers funded by Bristol Ageing Better,
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School Science Project with five local primary schools 2018 - 19, funded by the Ogden Trust,
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My St Pauls Community Photography Project, 2018 - 19 funded by Bristol City Council, working with local groups including Over 50's, refugees and asylum seekers and people recovering from addictions.
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Find out more about our facilities on the Darkrooms page, or email us with any enquiries.
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