In 2022-23 Historic England commissioned several photographers to work with local communities to capture images representative of their local high streets. This formed part of the Picturing High Streets project. In Chester, Suzanne St Clare was commissioned as photographer. She wrote the following text to describe her work on the project: “My response to the residency was to work creatively with business owners trading on the historical Rows in Chester.
Initially we started by finding out about how these business owners came to Chester, their community, challenges, the quirkiness of independent trading and their love and passion for this beautiful, historic city...." Three sets of images were created as a result of the residency. Suzanne St Clare wrote the following text about this set: "In the first year the traders were shown the work of Japanese photographer, Daido Moriyama who shot using black and white film with little regard to composition. The traders didn’t have much spare time, and most weren’t familiar with using a camera, so by using disposable film cameras, there was no pressure to ‘examine’ what they were photographing. The traders photographed their working lives and businesses in a similar style to Daido Moriyama." Since this commission, the Rows Capital Improvements project has enhanced more than 100 properties associated with the Rows to improve access and footfall as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zones Programme. This has included improvements to the lighting, paintwork, balustrading and stall boards, investment in marketing the Rows as well as tours and other activities, and the production of a Business Guide aimed at local traders.
'Picturing England's High Streets' commision by Open Eye Gallery, Historic England and Photoworks.
Image by Ash Afife in collaboration with Suzanne St Clare.
This is part of the Job: HEC01/128/01/06/03 Picturing High Streets Photographer Residencies - Suzanne St Clare: Chester, Participant Photography; within the Volume: HEC01/128/01/06 Picturing High Streets Photographer Residencies - Suzanne St Clare: Chester; within the Sub Series: HEC01/128/01 Picturing High Streets: Photographer Residencies; within the Series: HEC01/128 Picturing High Streets; within the Collection: HEC01 Historic England
© Ash Afife
Photographer: Afife, Ash
21st Century Shop, Shops And Shopping
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