This solo exhibition of Sandra George’s (1957-2013) presents her photography and a selection from her wider artistic multi-disciplinary practice which includes printing, painting, bookworks, textiles and jewellery. This exhibition, curated by Jenny Brownrigg and in partnership with Craigmillar Now, is part of Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art 2024.

George was a community worker in Craigmillar, Edinburgh. She was a prolific social-documentary photographer, taking thousands of images of community projects across Scotland between the late 1980s through to the late 2000s. Social justice and equity was at the heart of both George’s community and artistic work. Her black and white photography includes subjects ranging from Braille classes in Royal Blind School Edinburgh, to capturing sessions with disabled musicians. Her perspective and insight as a Black female social documentary photographer and artist adds further importance to this collection – women photographers of colour capturing community life in Scotland over this time period are significantly underrepresented. George did not exhibit work in her lifetime. The message of her work – community, care, accessibility and equality in the arts and workplaces, ethics in working with others in under-reached communities, exploration of identity - are all relevant to issues and themes today.

As well as the exhibition there is also a commission for a Scotland-based Black or Person of Colour contemporary photographer / artist / community education worker or curator to engage with the Sandra George Archive at Craigmillar Now and develop an event for Glasgow International (Friday 7th – Sunday 23rd June 2024) that shares their response to her work.

Bio:
Born in Nottingham, Sandra George (1957-2013) lived the first seven years of her life in Jamaica with her mother, before moving to Birmingham, and then Edinburgh, to live with her father. George studied at Napier University (1979-1982) gaining a BA (hons) Photography; then a BA (hons) Fine Art at Edinburgh College of Art (2001-2004) in Drawing and Painting. In 2004 she graduated in Community Education at The University of Edinburgh. George was a freelance photographer for over 30 years for organisations and publications such as the Sentinel, the Tollcross Community Newspaper, Shelter, and the Craigmillar Festival News and the Craigmillar Chronicle. In the 1980s' she worked in Community Development in Wester Hailes. In the 1990s’ she worked in Craigmillar, Edinburgh for organisations including McGovan house, the Thistle Foundation, and the Craigmillar Community Arts Centre. In 2008 she was Youth Services Manager with Hunter’s Hall Cooperative, Craigmillar. That year she launched Niddrie Community Youth Group.

Whilst George did not exhibit in her lifetime, Craigmillar Now have curated: ‘Sandra George, Craigmillar 1988 – 1994', The White House, Craigmillar (2022): 'Sandra George, Craigmillar 1988 – 1994', Oman’s Pub, Craigmillar (2023); and in the group exhibition 'We Love Craigmillar', at The Craigmillar Heart’s Community Club (2023)

Craigmillar Now is a community-led arts and heritage organisation based in Craigmillar, Edinburgh who hold George’s collection.