A celebration of analogue photobooths and the art that is created with them
Returning to the UK for the first time in nearly a decade, The International Photobooth Convention 2016 will take place Monday 9 to Friday 13 of May at Fred Aldous in Manchester. Led by photobooth artists Mr Mixup and Kate Tyler along with Ali Gunn from Fred Aldous, the convention will be a celebration of analogue photobooths through workshops, discussion, exhibition and film.
Throughout May, Fred Aldous will be exhibiting work by Mr Mixup, Kate Tyler and Marco Ferrari along with artworks created during the course of the convention. The International Photobooth Convention is free and open to all.
The International Photobooth Convention 2016
Mon 9 – Fri 13 May 2016, 9am – 5pm,
FREE
PROGRAMME
We are pleased to announce the first selection of workshops and informal drop-in sessions taking place at The International Photobooth Convention. The sessions will explore the creative potential of the analogue photobooth and give you the chance to collaborate with the artists, experiment with different creative techniques and create your own mini masterpieces.

Drop in sessions
Daily, Monday 9 - Friday 13 May
FREE, No booking necessary
Mr Mixup employs the photobooth as a site to locate the true nature of DIY cultural expression. He will lead sessions which explore the methods used within his work and will invite participants to create their own mini psychedelic masterpieces. Mixup welcomes people bringing a prop with them to incorporate it into their piece. Spontaneity is the key.

Drop in Sessions
Monday 9, Tuesday 10 and Thursday 12 May
FREE, No booking necessary
Kate Tyler uses the photobooth as a site for performance and for her sessions she will be inviting you to step into the booth and perform. Using themes and methods utilised in her work you will get the chance to write a messages in a booth, don a balaclava for your photobooth mugshot and recreate Frida Kahlo’s portraits.

4 hour Workshop (includes a tea break)
Tuesday 10 May, 12pm – 4pm
FREE, Book your place on the workshop here.
Caroline Dowsett will lead a workshop taking inspiration from her ongoing Botanical Everyday project which has seen her illustrate flowers and plant life on a daily basis. For her workshop Caroline will give a presentation about flowers and their meanings and lead a drawing and making session where you will get to create your own flower from a variety of materials. These flowers will then go on to form a photobooth evolving garden and the basis of a Risograph zine.

Half hour sessions
Wednesday 11 May, 11am – 3pm
FREE, Book your place on the workshop here.
Specialising in surface embellishment and highly tactile pieces, Mariel Osborn is a freelance prop, still life stylist and accessory maker. For the convention she will run half hour sessions to transport you deep under the sea. Transforming you using handmade props, wearable items and creative styling, Mariel will use the photobooth for a mini under water theme photo shoot with you as the model.
Hour sessions
Wednesday 11 May, 11am – 3pm
FREE, Book your place on the workshop here.

4 hour Workshop (includes a tea break)
Thursday 12 May, 12pm – 4pm
FREE, Book your place on the workshop here.
Aliyah Hussain is a multi-disciplinary artist who utilises a variety of techniques to create bold and colourful artworks. Using techniques from her practice, Aliyah’s workshop will explore methods such as mark making, mono print, screen-print and collage. In the session you will produce a wearable artwork with moveable features to produce four mini collages in the photobooth.

Drop in session
Friday 13 May 11am – 3pm
No booking necessary
Layla Sailor combines fashion photography, fine art and filmmaking to produce vibrant surrealist works that reference traditional crafts, humour, sexuality and politics. Layla will be leading drop in sessions which continue her research into prisims and holograms to explore the reflective potential of the photobooth.

Tin Type Portrait: Monday 9 – Thursday 12 May, 9am – 5pm
Throw Your Own Tin Type: Fri 13 May, 9am – 5pm
£16 - £54, Book your portrait session here.
For the duration of the convention, Tin Type Trailer will be popping up in Fred Aldous; taking bookings for Wet Plate Collodion portraits and hosting a special throw your own Tin type day. Wet Plate Collodion was the main method of photography between 1851 and around 1870. This Victorian process creates images on tin which are completely unique as there is no negative involved. By having your portrait taken you will get the chance to see this historical process and witness the magic as the image appears on the tin from negative to positive all inside in Tin Type’s travelling darkroom.
DOG DAY AFTERNOON
Friday 13 May 12pm - 5pm
FREE
On the final day of the International Photobooth Convention we will be inviting our four legged friends to come and have their photobooth portrait taken. All dogs who come in will be entered into our Instagram dog show where the public will get to vote for their favourite pooch.
FREDS AT NIGHT
Thursday 12 May 6.00pm - 8.30pm
FREE
Tell us you are coming along here
For Manchester After Hours Fred Aldous and IPBC16 will be hosting a photobooth party. Experiment in the photobooths, get your 3 minute portrait drawn by Alex T Fraser, Caroline Dowsett and himHallows or join the Mono Print Collective risograph zine workshop.
History
The Photobooth Convention came together in the late 1990's out of Steve Mixups many gatherings and projects as a way of celebrating this cultural phenomenon and bringing together the people who have enjoyed this overlooked medium. From Nottingham, London, Brighton and Belgrade he took it to New York in 2003 whereupon it was noticed by Brian and Tim at Photobooth.net and Anthony at A&A Studios, Inc. who then took over the mantle of hosting this event with successful events in St Louis, Chicago and Los Angeles. Now it is time to revisit the UK again with a natural home found at Fred Aldous in Manchester.
