Firstly, it is essential to define our understanding of the word sustainable and its usage herein.
Sustainable Def.
To contribute to a world fit for future generations to inhabit. This encompasses sustainable relations between humans, as well as non-humans, within an ecosystem that entangles in social, political and economic dimensions.
The Sustainable Darkroom is committed to exploring sustainability and its nuances within the photographic ecosystem, to develop an industry-specific response to the global ecological crisis. As habitat loss, species extinction, ocean acidification, industrial toxicity, environmental racism and more continue to mount - it is essential that we transform our material relationships, in view of a sustainable future.
We will continue to evolve with new knowledge and research, so that we are able to provide up-to-date and essential information, resources and support to practitioners that wish to approach their own photographic practice in a more environmentally-conscious way.
Our aim is to transform the approach to photographic materials and their historically toxic nature, prioritising ecological balance.
We intend to fulfil this mission through:
Accessibility.
Seeking private and public funding to subsidise educational workshops.
Working with low cost and/or freely available materials where possible.
Inclusivity
To work with people across all cultures, sexualities, races, religions, geographies and economic classes.
Including as many systems of thought as possible; non-western philosophy, decolonial and queer ecology, neuro-diverse and feminist theory.
Encouraging and facilitating freedom of expression by spreading acceptance and kindness.
Transparency
Researching and making ecologically informed decisions across all platforms, resources, third parties that we work with.
Explicitly stating what parts of our work have been funded and by whom.
Good Practice / Care
Thinking through sustainable relations between humans, non-humans and inanimate bodies within photography.
To value our natural resources and consider their essential role in the balance of the ecosystem.
To recognise ecological and climate justice as racial, social and economic justice, and its disproportionate effect on the Global South.
Sharing Our Ethos
Supporting, doing and facilitating pioneering research.
Empowering individual makers, does, thinkers and creators.
Collaborating and sharing with other communities and organisations that share our pursuit.
- Hannah, Ed, Alice and Eileen: The Sustainable Darkroom developers -