MP encourages residents to document our local high streets
Historic England and Photoworks are inviting people to look at their high streets as never before, charting and celebrating the history and experiences of the people and places that make up these key places. Over the next 12 months, people are encouraged to respond to a fortnightly challenge that uncovers the secret life of the high street by posting their own photographs on Instagram using #PicturingHighStreets. From celebrating local high street heroes that make our places special, to capturing favourite meeting places, to recording the hidden heritage of our high streets, the most evocative photographs will be featured on the Picturing High Streets Instagram channel.
A selection of photographs submitted before 21st December 2022 will form a national exhibition opening in Spring 2023 filling outdoor advertising spaces, outdoor exhibition panels and shop windows on high streets across England. These photographs, alongside a selection of others submitted from January 2023 onwards, will also enter the Historic England Archive, the nation’s archive for England’s historic buildings, archaeology and social history.
John said,
“I welcome this excellent initiative, and would encourage residents to participate by photographing and documenting our high streets across the constituency. Not only will this allow us to celebrate and take pride in our local spaces, but it gives the opportunity to share our part of England with the rest of the country as well as contributing to the Historic England Archive.”
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic England, said,
“High streets are at the heart of communities. We know their future feels uncertain and high streets are facing a pivotal moment in their long history. It’s time to get out there, rediscover our high streets, and tell the stories behind the shopfronts.”
Notes to Editors:
- Follow @PicturingHighStreets on Instagram and post photographs using #PicturingHighStreets. The national outdoor exhibition will open Spring 2023.
- The high street cultural programme is part of the £95 million government-funded High Streets Heritage Action Zone scheme, which is breathing new life into over 60 high streets across England. Culture and heritage reconnect people to their high streets and helps people rediscover, celebrate and shape them through renovations to important historic buildings in high streets and community engagement - including poetry, film, music, performance and photography events.
- Photoworks is an international platform for artists and audiences.
