testimonies

“I think the main thing that made this such a positive experience was the relationship with the gallerists. They were genuinely enthusiastic advocates of my work online and in person. Their friendly and professional approach is key to a positive artist and visitor experience and the gallery is a very welcoming space in a great location. Crucially, they are tireless advocates for photography as art and a living.” - Julie Laing (exhibited Dec 2023 - Jan 2024)

“The agitate team was warm and welcoming and I would absolutely recommend exhibiting there. I felt supported in every way, whether it came to promoting the show through their social media channels or scheduling dates to set up the art works…” - Sophia Hembeck (May 2023)

“Help was always there if I needed it, with creative decisions, recommendations, and hanging, but I also felt that I had real artistic freedom. AGITATE put a lot of effort into marketing my work to their own large, engaged community, and beyond. No part of working with them felt transactional.” - Ellen Renton (May 2023)

I have always felt invigorated after visiting my favourite photography gallery in Edinburgh, whether for a carefully hung exhibition, to discover a zine, book, or print by an artist of whom I had been previously unaware, or simply to enjoy one of many ongoing chats with the staff, whose members I now consider my friends.” - Dr John Perivolaris (June 2023)

How it started

Starting by forming Filtr Collective Ltd in summer 2021, Christina Webber, Jaime Molina and Matteo Crawford came together to try and use their experience and networks in the coffee scene to support artists to exhibit their work in unconventional spaces across the city. Towards the end of this year, an exciting opportunity presented itself to take on AGITATE’s first premises at Haymarket Terrace, and the tiny team decided to try and make it work.

With no prior experience in renovation, running a business, buying and selling photography, or really any of the things that might have been useful, the Filtr team set about pouring energy into AGITATE and trying to create something that Edinburgh had been lacking for a long time. It was always intended to be more than a shop: a welcoming space, a creative hub, and a place for photographers and passers-by to buy, sell, discuss, discover and celebrate image-making in its many forms. See more images from the renovation by clicking the ‘Set up/Install’ insta highlight.

WHERE IT’S GOING

In 2023 Matteo left the business to move city and pursue more photographic work and AGITATE moved into 6 William Street: a new venue shared with Studies in Photography. The venue has a shared goal to celebrate local image-makers and cultivate an appetite for photography-focused making and sharing. 6 William Street is a home for photography in all its forms.

In early 2024, Kat Gollock joined the AGITATE team as Co-Director, an esteemed Freelance Photographer in her own right, and a friend to the team for many months before. Involved in 6 William Street from the get-go, Kat joining the team was a hugely valued and much celebrated development. Presently, Kat, Christina and Jaime operate AGITATE from this base in the West End and continue to work hard behind-the-scenes to ensure its future.