Peter Marlow Foundation Creative Retreat

The team at Peter Marlow Foundation are proud to announce their latest creative retreat in the beautiful surroundings of Dungeness, Kent.

A group of 12 photography-based practitioners will have the opportunity to work together with their peers and socially engaged artist, writer and educator Anthony Luvera over a long weekend, October 10-13, 2025. Shannon Ghannam, Director of Development and Programming at PMF will host the retreat and also collaborate with the group on the programme. To help participants prepare for the retreat PMF will also offer a series of online workshops with socially engaged artists and academics about the history of socially engaged practice in the UK and contemporary practice.

Whilst this is a retreat focused on photographers they welcome applications from anyone working across photographic practice (academics and educators for example) who might benefit from this experience.

This unique event, spread across 4 days, would suit practitioners at varying stages of their careers and would be particularly useful for those with an interest in the following subjects:

– What is socially engaged photography? How does it differ from other photographic approaches?
– What interdisciplinary research and writing informs socially engaged practice?
– What can we learn from the history of socially engaged photography globally, and in the UK specifically?
– What do photographers need to consider when developing a socially engaged photographic practice?
– What are some of the limitations of socially engaged photographic practice?
– What are some things to consider, for ourselves and others, when working collectively on socially engaged photography projects?
– What impact is possible when using a socially engaged photographic practice? How do we measure impact?
– What further and higher education options are available in this area?
– Who can we partner with on socially engaged photographic projects?
– How can we fund our work?
– How can we promote our work?
– How can I be part of a network of other socially engaged artists?
– What professional networks exist for socially engaged artists?

Participants are invited to show previous or current projects and seek and give feedback. This retreat would also be ideal for someone developing a project and seeking critical input from other practitioners. Applicants will be asked to share their current challenges and ambitions for the retreat when applying and we will tailor our sessions to best address these for the group.

Nourishing vegetarian/vegan meals and drinks will be provided over the weekend and on the Saturday we will visit the famous Fish Hut in Dungeness for lunch (veggie options available).

As well as a programme of talks and group sessions, the aim of the retreat is to also give you time for meditation, wildlife watching, walks, star gazing, fire side chats and cold water swimming (available nearby for those with transport).

Participants will be able to hear about the work of Peter Marlow and PMF and use our extensive photobook library that was acquired from the Magnum Tokyo office as well as Peter Marlow and David Hurn’s personal collections.

Peaceful and luxurious accommodation is available on site for an additional, discounted fee ranging from £150-350 for the entire period (shared rooms, shared houses and private options). Please talk to the team about this on application. Staying on site is recommended as it will add to the experience of the retreat, please note that travel once in Dungeness is difficult without a car.

The PMF team will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Below you will find a proposed schedule, which may adapt to the needs of the group:

Series of three online evening lectures with Jaskirt Dhaliwal-Boora, Liz Wewiora and a third speaker to be announced, in the two week lead up to the retreat. Dates to be confirmed.

Friday October 10th, 2025

3pm Arrival and settle into accommodation
4pm Welcome and Introductions to each other and our work
6:15pm Shannon Ghannam, Introduction to the work of the Peter Marlow Foundation
7pm Special Welcome Dinner
Star Gazing and Fireside Chats

Saturday October 11th, 2025

8:30am Breakfast
9:30am Group review of ambitions for the retreat, including current challenges and ambitions for our work
12:30pm Lunch (Group visit to Fish Hut)
1:30pm Anthony Luvera Lecture and Q&A
3pm Self Directed Time
4:30pm Group presentations of individual work
7:30pm Dinner
Free time and drinks

Sunday October 12th, 2025

9am Breakfast
10am Group presentations of individual work
1pm Lunch
2:30pm Group regroup – Reflections on time in Dungeness and intention setting based on feedback
4pm Sunset Walk/Self Directed Time
7pm Final Dinner and Drinks
(Some people may want to leave after dinner or depart in the morning)

Monday October 13th, 2025

8:30am Breakfast
Free time/Swim pending weather
Goodbyes and Departure!

We hope participants will leave feeling like they have expanded their network of peers and industry contacts and that they have answered some of the big questions they have about their work and with a plan for next steps.

One scholarship place on this retreat will be offered free of charge and include accommodation. Equality, diversity, and inclusion are guiding principles at PMF and we actively encourage scholarship applications from communities including, but not limited to, Black, Asian and ethnically diverse, Traveller, disabled, neurodiverse, care experienced, LGBTQ+, NEETs, unemployed and/or the low waged. Travel is not included and applicants should be over 18 and from the UK.

You can apply for the scholarship place until 11:59pm August 15th, 2025. Please email Tara Preston [email protected] to be sent an application form.

To be considered for the paid places please apply here until 11:59pm Sunday August 24th, 2025. You will need to sign in to Google to apply or you can email [email protected] to receive an application form.

£850 + accommodation costs ranging from £150-350 for the entire period (shared rooms, shared houses and private options)

The retreat is subject to a minimum number of applicants and will be confirmed September 3rd at the latest, when the successful and scholarship places will also be announced.

Applicants will be charged when their place has been confirmed.