1. WELCOME AND ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

1.1 Introduction: Welcome to https://chesterphotofestival.com. This page explains the terms under which you may use our website, whether as a new participant, registered user, or guest. Please read these terms carefully before using the site.

1.2 Binding Agreement: By using the Website, you agree to these Terms where applicable to your use of the Website. Purchases, bookings, submissions and other services may also be subject to additional terms expressly identified before you enter into the relevant transaction.
1.3 Corporate Identity: This website is operated by CHESTER PHOTO FESTIVAL Ltd, a UK Limited company (No. 15322598). Registered office: 71-75 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London, WC2H 9JQ.
1.4 Data Handling: We follow our Privacy Policy when handling information about you. By using the site, you confirm that all data provided by you is accurate.
1.5 Communication & Visits: We operate primarily as an online entity. In-person visits, calls, or meetings (via MS Teams/Zoom) are strictly by advance booking only. Please contact info@chesterphotofestival.com to request an appointment.
1.6 Contact Availability: Telephone enquiries (07949 066 406) are generally available Monday to Wednesday, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm GMT. Outside of these hours, please email us to schedule a call.
1.7 Event Locations: Lectures, presentations, workshops, and meetings are held at designated venues in Chester (such as The Grosvenor Museum, University of Chester, Chester Picturehouse, Storyhouse, Why Spaces, or artist studios) only by advance booking and as specified on your ticket or confirmation email.

 

We, us, our Chester Photo Festival	Chester Photo Festival Ltd https://chesterphotofestival.com
Website, site	https://chesterphotofestival.com and any Chester Photo Festival Ltd-operated subdomains, including https://shop.chesterphotofestival.com
You, participant	User of our website, customer, visitor, guest, subscriber, donor, supporter.

 

2. PROJECT SCOPE AND SERVICES

2.1 Defined Services: The Company provides festivals, exhibitions, bespoke sessions, workshops, and conferences.

2.2 Expanded Operations: Services include book and journal publications, artwork sales (unique and limited editions), and the operation of an online shop for objects and equipment.

 

3. USE OF THE SITE AND COMPUTER MISUSE

3.1 Access: Use is permitted on a temporary basis; we reserve the right to withdraw or amend services without notice.

3.2 Computer Misuse: Any act that constitutes a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 will result in the immediate termination of your right to use the site.

3.3 Prohibited Actions: You must not introduce viruses, worms, Trojans, or other technologically harmful material. You must not attempt to gain unauthorised access to our site, server, or connected databases.

3.4 Digital Liability: We are not legally responsible for any damage caused by viruses or harmful material that may infect your equipment through the use of our site.

 

4. BOOKING, INVOICES, AND CONFIRMATION

4.1 Booking Methods: Requests for services, event entries, and ticket sales may be submitted via our online forms or by emailing events@chesterphotofestival.com. Our Booking Form may be adapted to collect relevant details specific to your interest (e.g. conference vs. bespoke session). We may discuss your booking details via telephone, email, or live chat (WhatsApp). Any booking or submission via these methods constitutes an expression of interest only and is subject to these Terms and Conditions.

4.2 Payment and Sales Channels: Online shop payments and other authorised online payments may be processed through Square (the trading name of Squareup Europe Ltd). Where agreed separately, Chester Photo Festival Ltd may also accept payment by bank transfer or another payment method stated on an invoice or written confirmation.

4.3 Online Shop Orders: When you place an order through our online shop, you are making an offer to purchase the relevant goods or services on the terms displayed at checkout and in these Terms.
Receipt of an automated order acknowledgement does not necessarily constitute acceptance of the order. A contract is formed when we accept the order by confirming it for fulfilment, dispatch, collection or performance, as applicable. We may decline or cancel an order before acceptance where, for example, an item is unavailable, there is an obvious pricing or description error, we cannot fulfil the requested specification, or payment cannot be authorised. Where payment has already been taken for an order we do not accept, it will be refunded.

4.4 Invoiced Bookings and Services: For bookings, commissions or services arranged outside the online shop, an invoice or written quotation may constitute our offer to you. You are responsible for checking that the information and specification shown are correct before payment or written acceptance.
4.5 Contract Formation for Invoiced Work: Unless expressly agreed otherwise in writing, an invoiced booking or service becomes binding when we confirm acceptance following payment or other agreed acceptance of the invoice or quotation.
4.6 Additional Terms: Specific activities, commissions, printing services, events or submissions may have additional terms, specifications or technical requirements. Where applicable, these will be identified before the relevant contract is formed and will form part of that agreement.
4.7 Payment Terms: Where an invoice specifies a payment period, payment must be made within that period. Unless another period is stated, invoices are payable within seven days. Payments may be made using the payment method stated on the invoice or payment request.

 

We will never ask you to disclose your PIN, password, full security credentials or other information that your bank or payment provider advises you not to disclose.

 

5. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

5.1 Ownership of Participant Work: The Participant retains full and exclusive ownership of all intellectual property rights and copyright in any work submitted to the Festival. Participation in the Festival does not constitute a transfer of ownership to Chester Photo Festival.

5.2 Submission Licence: By submitting work, the Participant grants Chester Photo Festival a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, and perpetual licence to display, reproduce, and publish the work solely for the purposes of promoting the Festival. This includes, but is not limited to, use on our website, social media, press releases, and in the "Chester Photo Festival" official publications (digital or print).

5.3 Moral Rights and Accreditation: The Company recognises the Participant’s moral rights. We commit to ensuring that the author is clearly credited in all instances where their work is displayed or published by the Festival.

5.4 Our Content: Chester Photo Festival is the owner or licensee of all intellectual property rights in the website, its branding, and its original materials. These works are protected by UK and international copyright laws.

5.5 Limited User Licence: You may download extracts of our site content for personal reference only. You must not use any part of our materials for commercial purposes without obtaining a written licence from us.

Strategic Note on Moral Rights

 

6. SHOP SALES, ART SALES, PRINTING, RETURNS AND DELIVERY

6.1 Standard Goods: Standard physical goods purchased online are subject to applicable statutory consumer rights. Where the statutory distance-selling cancellation right applies, a consumer may normally cancel the purchase within 14 days after receiving the goods and must normally return the goods within a further 14 days after notifying us of the cancellation.

6.2 Bespoke and Personalised Goods: The statutory change-of-mind cancellation right does not normally apply to goods made to the consumer's specifications or clearly personalised.  This may include qualifying photographic or fine-art printing produced specifically from customer-supplied files, dimensions, paper selections or other individual specifications, and other genuinely commissioned or personalised goods. Whether this exception applies depends on the nature of the individual order. The fact that an item is produced after an order is placed does not, by itself, make it bespoke or personalised.Nothing in this clause affects statutory rights where goods are faulty, damaged or otherwise do not conform to the contract.

6.3 Unique Artworks, Signed Works and Limited Editions: Unique artworks, signed works and limited-edition works may be offered subject to specific sales terms stated on the relevant product page, quotation, invoice or written confirmation.

Unique, signed or limited-edition status does not by itself remove any statutory cancellation right that applies to a consumer purchase made at a distance. Where a work is individually commissioned, produced to the customer's specification or clearly personalised, the cancellation exception described in Section 6.2 may apply. Nothing in this section affects statutory rights relating to faulty, damaged or incorrectly supplied goods.

6.4 Returns of Standard Goods: Where a statutory cancellation right applies, the customer may handle the goods only to the extent reasonably necessary to establish their nature, characteristics and functioning. We may make a lawful deduction from a refund where the value of returned goods has been diminished by handling beyond what would reasonably be permitted when examining the goods in a shop. Unless otherwise stated or required by law, the customer is responsible for the direct cost of returning unwanted goods where we have informed the customer of that responsibility before purchase.

A model cancellation form is available here.

6.5 Faulty, Damaged or Incorrect Goods: If goods are received faulty, damaged or incorrectly supplied, please contact us as soon as reasonably practicable. We may ask for photographs of the goods, packaging and any shipping damage to assist us in investigating and resolving the matter. Any request for photographs or prompt notification does not restrict or replace the customer's statutory rights.

6.6 Refunds and Original Delivery Charges: Where a statutory cancellation right applies, we will refund the price paid together with the cost of our least expensive standard delivery option offered for the order. If the customer selected a more expensive delivery method, we are not required to refund the additional amount above the cost of the standard delivery option unless applicable law requires otherwise. Refunds will be made within the applicable statutory period using the original payment method unless otherwise agreed.

6.7 Shipping, Collection and International Orders: UK orders are dispatched using an appropriate postal or courier service. Delivery times and applicable shipping charges are shown at checkout or agreed separately where specialist packaging or transport is required. Where collection is offered, orders may be collected by prior arrangement from the location and date stated in the product description, quotation or order confirmation. International orders may be subject to import VAT, customs duties, taxes or handling charges imposed by the destination jurisdiction. Unless expressly stated otherwise, these are the responsibility of the customer. Delivery estimates are estimates unless a specific delivery date has been expressly agreed. Our obligations concerning delivery remain subject to applicable consumer law.

 

7. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY AND RISK

7.1 Insurance Obligations: All participants, exhibitors, and artists (the "Participant") must maintain adequate insurance to keep themselves and their property fully and effectively insured. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Public Liability: Appropriate for the scale of the participation.
• Property & Works: Coverage for loss, theft, or damage to artworks, equipment, and stand installations (including fire, water damage, and burglary).
• Transit & Handling: Coverage for Works during packing, transit to/from the venue, installation, and de-installation.

7.2 Financial Cap: Responsibility is limited to the submission fee or total price paid for our events or services.

7.3 Specific Exclusions: The Company shall have no liability to the Participant for:

• Commercial Loss: Any loss of profits, revenue, business, data, or anticipated savings.
• Intangible Loss: Any loss of publicity, loss of opportunity, or depletion of goodwill.
• Third-Party Acts: Any copyright infringement or tortious acts committed by other participants or visitors.
• Site Content: All information on our site is provided on an “as is” basis without warranties of any kind.

7.4 Artwork and Physical Risk: Works are often displayed in public-access venues. The Company accepts no liability for:

• Damage, loss, or theft of artworks while in transit or on display.
• Minor wear and tear, accidental damage, or deterioration due to atmospheric conditions/public access.
• The Participant remains responsible for their own property at all times.

7.5 Statutory Rights: Nothing in these terms excludes or limits the Company’s liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation, or for any other liability which cannot be excluded under the laws of England and Wales (including the Consumer Rights Act 2015).

 

8. GOVERNANCE AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION

8.1 Mediation: If a dispute cannot be settled through negotiation, either party may propose in writing that structured negotiations be entered into with an accredited mediator.

8.2 Ongoing Obligations: A dispute shall not affect the parties' ongoing obligations under these terms while the dispute is being resolved.

8.3 Governing Law: These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction.

8.4 Refusal of Service: If we refuse to deliver the Events and Services, you may consider our agreement terminated. We will reimburse you without undue delay.

 

9. GENERAL PROVISIONS

9.1 Transfer of Rights: We may assign or subcontract our rights. You may not do so without our prior written consent.

9.2 Variations: Changes to this agreement are only binding if agreed upon in writing and signed by the Company.

 

10. FEEDBACK, CONTACT AND LINKS

10.1 Contact Us: For general enquiries, suggestions, or complaints, please email info@chesterphotofestival.com or use our website Contact Form.

10.2 External Links: Links from our site to third-party sites are for information only; we accept no responsibility for their content.

 

11. SPECIFIC ACTIVITY TERMS

11.1 Incorporation by Reference: To ensure clarity, specific festivals, competitions, and services have additional terms that apply only to participants of those activities. These are additional to the general Terms and Conditions and are incorporated into our agreement by reference.

11.2 Curatorial & Organisational Stage: Where applicable, further specific terms or technical requirements may be discussed and agreed upon during the curatorial stage. Any such terms will be finalised and presented within your Invoice, which, once paid, becomes part of our binding agreement.

11.3 Activity Directory: Please find the relevant section on the website, where the additional terms are listed, as well as terms that may be explicitly discussed or written agreements with you and included on your invoice.

 

12. NEWSLETTER AND COMMUNICATIONS

12.1 Administrative and Service Communications: Where you make a purchase, booking, submission or enquiry, we may send communications reasonably necessary to administer that transaction or activity. These may include order confirmations, payment information, delivery or collection arrangements, deadlines, event information and other service-related updates. These communications are not marketing communications where they are limited to information necessary for administering the relevant transaction or relationship.

12.2 Marketing and Newsletter Communications: Marketing and newsletter communications are managed separately from purchases, bookings and submissions. Where consent is required for electronic marketing, we will request it separately and will not make consent to marketing a condition of purchasing goods, booking services or participating in Festival activities. You may unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time using the unsubscribe facility provided or by contacting us. 

12.3 Service Provision: We provide the newsletter as a free-of-charge information service. We reserve the right to suspend, amend, or terminate the newsletter service at any time without prior notice.

12.4 Third-Party Links: Our newsletters may contain links to third-party content. As per Section 10.2, we accept no responsibility for the content or privacy practices of external sites.

 

13. CONTACT US

Please email us at info@chesterphotofestival.com to contact us about any issues.