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Stockton photographer Adam Parkin marks two decades of documenting SIRF via a curated selection of images
Images by Simon Shaw
Stockton photographer Adam Parkin marks two decades of documenting Stockton International Riverside Festival with a new exhibition at ARC. SIRF’s Up 2026: 20 Years Photographing the Festival brings together a curated selection of images captured between 2005 and today, charting the colour, creativity and community spirit that have defined one of the UK’s leading outdoor arts events.
Parkin, who has attended SIRF almost every year since birth and has worked as a Visitor Experience Ambassador since 2014, first exhibited at ARC a decade ago. His new showcase expands that story, highlighting not just the spectacle of the festival but the people and atmosphere that shape it.
Running in ARC’s downstairs gallery space until 8th August, the exhibition offers a vivid visual history for long‑time festival‑goers and a gateway into SIRF’s cultural significance for new audiences.
