The Darkroom
We’re home to Portsmouth’s first community darkroom, based at the youth-led creative hub Playland. Pompey Darkroom is a place for learning, experimentation and connection, where we share traditional analogue photographic processes and open them up to new audiences.
The darkroom is a core part of our diverse programme across adult learning, education, and opportunities for young people. Through practical workshops and enriching learning programmes and creative projects, we introduce people to analogue photography and help them develop help them develop foundational knowledge and skills, from building confidence in taking photographs to printing contact sheets to developing film in a darkroom space. The darkroom also creates opportunities for photographers and facilitators to lead workshops and activities, supporting their professional development and sharing their knowledge with new audiences.
We also open the darkroom to the wider public through our annual open days, giving people the chance to explore the space and discover traditional photographic processes through activities.
The darkroom is not currently open access or available to hire. We’re working to grow and expand our programme, creating more opportunities for people across Portsmouth to learn, experiment and use the darkroom.
Want to get involved?
Explore our programme of workshops, photowalks, talks, exhibitions and more, and discover new ways to learn and connect through photography.