{"id":375,"date":"2012-11-23T19:49:41","date_gmt":"2012-11-23T19:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/the-golden-fleece.weepingash.co.uk\/wp\/the-first-five-years\/"},"modified":"2019-09-28T15:50:57","modified_gmt":"2019-09-28T15:50:57","slug":"the-first-five-years","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/the-golden-fleece.co.uk\/wp\/the-first-five-years\/","title":{"rendered":"The First Five Years"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Cambridge Darkroom<\/strong> was formally constituted as a company limited by guarantee on 11th January 1984. The objects for which the company was established were stated as:<\/p>\n

\u2018to further and advance the education of the public in the art of photography and to promote public knowledge, appreciation and understanding thereof.\u2019<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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To achieve this it was ’empowered’ to mount exhibitions, collect photographic works, promote photography and provide public facilities for the pursuit of photography. The journey began.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\" \"\"<\/a> \"\"<\/a> The team that brought the Cambridge Darkroom to fruition where Mark Lumley, Pavel <\/span>B\u00fcchler, Roy Hammans and Brian Human. <\/span>The founding directors <\/span>of the company were Roy Hammans, Brian Human, Colen Lumley, Peter Soar and Edward Wright. Colen Lumley, an architect, advised on the design of the gallery space and <\/span>Peter Soar, a local solicitor, provided legal advice and services – both had an active interest in photography and were keen supporters of the venture. Edward Wright brought his wealth of experience in design and teaching to the mix. The ‘board of directors’ met the legal requirements for a limited company and managed the company affairs.<\/p>\n

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A plan of the Gallery space published at its launch, designed by Pavel B\u00fcchler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

T<\/span>he Cambridge Darkroom Gallery<\/strong><\/span> opened on the first floor of Dales Brewery on 20th January 1984, with Mark Lumley as Director and Pavel B\u00fcchler as Co-Director. The Gallery Director and Co-director were the public face of the Darkroom; it was Mark and Pavel’s job to formulate and manage the programme – and to sustain it. The premises comprised 132 sq m of main gallery space, a spacious entrance stairway with room for small exhibitions, two darkrooms for processing and printing, a layout\/office area and a reception\/sales desk.<\/p>\n

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The catalogue of the Darkroom’s opening show, designed by Pavel B\u00fcchler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

P<\/span>avel B\u00fcchler’s<\/strong><\/span> distinctive typography and design skills brought a fresh look to the Darkroom\u2019s branding and publicity material, including the catalogue for the opening exhibition, Autographs<\/strong><\/em>, described in the programme as:<\/p>\n

\u2018\u2026the first major show to be produced by the Cambridge Darkroom. 43 artists out of the 70 British photographers invited have contributed with a piece of work that they consider best reveals their identity. The pictures in the show are often self-portraits but equally often they are not, they are autographs. Many of the photographs were specially created for this exhibition and are shown for the first time.\u2019 <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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\n<\/strong><\/span>T<\/span>he eclectic mix of artists<\/strong><\/span> represented included among others: Jane Bown<\/strong><\/a>, Bill Brandt<\/a>, Victor Burgin<\/a>, John Davies<\/a>, Fay Godwin<\/a>, Brian Griffin<\/a>, Sam Haskins<\/a>, Paul Hill<\/a>, Sharon Kivland<\/a>, Mari Mahr<\/a>, Angus McBean<\/a>, Jo Spence<\/a>, Chris Steele-Perkins<\/a><\/strong>,and Peter Turner<\/strong><\/a>. <\/strong>Many of them produced material specially for the show.
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During its first year as a publicly-funded gallery the Darkroom set an exceptionally high standard with a programme that included:<\/p>\n