Leading photographer curates exhibition to mark anniversary of Lisburn’s Island Arts Centre
With his news photographs of the Northern Ireland conflict on the covers of every national newspaper worldwide and shooting ad campaigns for Coca Cola, Dunlop Sports and editorial work for Newsweek and the LA Times, photographer Stephen S.T. Bradley, is curating a landmark exhibition ‘Silver Skies’, the first-ever photography open call for the Island Arts Centre in Lisburn, marking the venue's 25th anniversary as one of Northern Ireland’s leading arts hubs.
By structuring his curatorial debut as an open call for both amateur and professional photographers alike, he aims to celebrate a joy for the photographic medium that has defined his professional life.
The "Silver Skies" theme challenges photographers to return to the core of the medium. Bradley is specifically seeking "single-shot" photographs - authentic, single-exposure interperative images that capture what Silver Skies means to those who apply, without the use of composites or heavy digital manipulation.
Stephen S.T. Bradley commented on the launch:
"Drawing on a long and varied freelance career in N. Ireland and the US, I’ll be looking for those specific 'single-shot' photographs that define your Silver Sky. Inviting submissions from the amateur and professional photography community, I am eager to see how you interpret this theme through a single, authentic exposure.”
Christina Hurson, Arts Programme Co-ordinator at Island Arts Centre, added:
"Stephen was the natural choice to curate this project.
"He possesses a deep understanding of the Northern Ireland landscape, but also brings a sophisticated global eye developed while working in Atlanta.
"His international fine art and commercial experience ensures our entrants are being reviewed by someone who understands the bridge between local storytelling and world-class execution.”
Entries can be submitted online at https://islandartscentre.com/news/open-call-photography-exhibition-silver-skies
The closing date for entries is 12noon on April 10, 2026.
The open call is currently live and welcomes entries from photographers of all levels, based in Northern Ireland and further afield.
With prize money up for grabs, selected works will be exhibited at the Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, throughout June 2026.
Stephen S. T. Bradley is a professional photographer with an extensive background in editorial and commercial photography and video production (BBC, ITV, RTE).
His career spans decades, having worked with international news organizations, agencies, and government clients across Europe and the United States.
His fine art photography is held in numerous private collections globally.