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 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 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 poured energy into AGITATE to create something that Edinburgh had been lacking for a long time. It was always intended to be more than a shop: a welcoming creative hub, and a place for photographers and passers-by to buy, sell, discuss, discover and celebrate image-making in its many forms. See images from the renovation by clicking the ‘Set up/Install’ insta highlight.

In 2023 Matteo left the business to pursue a Freelance career in a new city, and AGITATE moved into 6 William Street: a venue shared with Studies in Photography. The shared goal was to celebrate local image-makers and cultivate an appetite for photography in Scotland. In early 2024, Kat Gollock joined the AGITATE team as Co-Director, an esteemed Freelance Photographer and a friend to the team since its inception. Kat, Christina and Jaime worked hard to build this new venue as a welcoming space: operating a dynamic programme of events, exhibitions and workshops at 6WS. At the close of 2024, due to persistent miscommunication and faced with an unworkable ultimatum from Studies in Photography, AGITATE was left no choice but to end their professional relationship, and for the first time was without a base.

where it’s going

At the close of 2024 and in response to their unexpected circumstances, AGITATE launched Patreon as a way to connect directly with the extended community established over its first 3 years, running a series of focus groups with members in order to inform their next steps. AGITATE secured a temporary studio with EP Spaces at Saltire Court (20 Castle Terrace, EH1 2EE), moving existing stock/gear to this new location and developing the space to operate as a shared studio.

The new future-facing tiers launched on March 1 2025, with a focus of MIXING and MAKING. The goal looking forward is to develop the Patreon community into a useful and meaningful photographic network for members of all tiers, alongside continuing a public-facing programme of events, selling local photographers’ work at markets and pop-ups, and continuing to deliver affordable or free opportunities for artists. Stay tuned for more developments… or join us!

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)