Michael Sargeant

Key team member working to deliver FORMAT International Photography Festival, the UK’s leading biennale in contemporary photography and related media, and its year round programme of high-profile exhibitions, international commissions, professional development and collaborations with UK and international partners. The last edition of the festival occurred 24 March – 23 April 2017 and featured over 200 artists exhibiting across 15 venues in Derby City Centre and beyond. We presented a programme of over 40 events including conferences and talks, the UK’s largest portfolio review, workshops, family activities and more. Key Responsibilities: • Development, marketing and management of the festival international open call, gaining more than 980 submissions • Managed the production and delivery of a major, large-scale public exhibition in Derby City Centre featuring newly commissioned work by artists Liz Hingley, Tom Hunter and the international collective Discipula • Lead coordinator and programmer for month-long festival programme featuring a photo book market, numerous talks, tours, film screenings and workshops • Lead producer on the festival’s Photobook Market, working closely with a guest curator to develop a programme of activity • Lead on production the festival guide including overseeing design and print • Contribute to the curation and deliver the exhibition of over 200 artists across 15 venues in Derby City Centre and satellite venues; management of artists, external venues • The conception and development of two limited-edition craft ales with local partners and suppliers • Partnership building with local businesses and cultural organisations • Editorial support for the printed festival catalogue and key liaison with designers • Mentoring and management of multiple placement students

Assistant Curator at QUAD, a National Portfolio Organisation that specialises in contemporary visual art and digital practice. Working closely the Artistic Director and Senior Curator to develop and deliver a programme of engaging, high-quality exhibitions and related public programme. Curated and managed a year-round programme of exhibitions in QUAD's public gallery spaces, manages budgets, commissions, residencies and developing partnerships with various private and public sector organisations. Previous Exhibitions: • TEAMLAB (Dec 2016 - Feb 2017) - What a Loving, and Beautiful World (2011), is a 3-screen installation of projected computer generated artworks which that immersed audiences in a stunning interactive art experience. • GLITCHED (Sept - Nov 2016) - An experimental and innovative interactive art exhibition created by a team of international artists, curators and museums utilising augmented reality and game engine technology. Co-curated by Peter Bonnell and Michael Sargeant • WILL HURT: CONFIGURATIONS (Dec 2016 - Feb 2017) - Solo exhibition by Norwich-based Will Hurt including new site-specific work – part of his ongoing Automated Spatial Transformations series – in which software creates digital models of the QUAD building. • DIZZY INK: THREE MONTHS ON (Sept - Nov 2016) - an exhibition reflecting on the time since the EU Referendum. Through workshops, a curated submission and newly produced artworks the walls of QUAD's public spaces were transformed by politically charged posters. • EAST MEETS WEST 2.0 (July - Sept 2016) - Group show featuring 16 emerging artists working in photography and moving image based in the Midlands region. Partnership with GRAIN Projects. • NORIKO OKAKU: THE INTERPRETER (Dec 2015 - Jan 2016) - Solo exhibition by Noriko Okaku following a 3-month residency and commission in partnership with Animate Projects, QUAD and D-Lab, featuring original collage works, animation and limited edition Tarot Card publication.