A PHOTOGRAPHY festival documenting the west coast of Cumbria is coming to Barrow.

Following the success of the recent ‘West Coast Photo’ exhibition in the Dock Museum, organisers have decided to expand the initiative into a several-day-long festival. Barrow and Whitehaven are to be the two ‘hubs’ for the project, with a number of free workshops, competitions and pop-up events planned.

The festival will open in Barrow on March 20, with a preview night at Cooke’s Studio on Abbey Road and then a number of free drop-in workshops in the town centre the following day.

“A lot of people from outside of Cumbria tend to just think of the Lake District,” Joanna Roy, the festival’s project manager, said. “What we’re trying to do with this festival is shine a light on the West Coast and draw attention to its under-appreciated beauty.”

Part of the project will see eight Barrovians undertake a course with photographer Robert Parkinson to help them explore their creativity.