Picturing High Streets was a three-year project delivered by Photoworks to create a contemporary picture of England’s high streets through artist residencies and a public call out. It was part of the High Streets Heritage Action Zones Cultural Programme, and produced in partnership with GRAIN Projects, Impressions Gallery, Open Eye Gallery, London College of Communications, Photofusion, QUAD/FORMAT, Redeye, ReFramed and The Photographers’ Gallery.
From September 2022 to September 2023, people across England responded to themed fortnightly challenges and submitted their photographs on Instagram under the hashtag #PicturingHighStreets. All entries created an unofficial archive documenting a year in the life of the English high street on Instagram, and a selection form this permanent collection in the Historic England Archive.
This photograph was selected to represent the theme ‘High Street Hang Outs’. The brief for this theme was: ‘Hanging out on the high street takes different forms. These candid shots capture the timelessness of certain activities, as generations hunt for new music or second-hand clothes. They also show places that invite a longer stay to get a new haircut, do the laundry or chat with a friend.’
The photographer wrote the following text to explain how their image relates to this theme: "This was a weekend in June. People flocked to Blackpool to hang-out on the Golden Mile, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of this old-school holiday destination and its charm. The day was hot and gloomy, heavy and damp but holidaymakers continued to buy stick-on tattoos, candyfloss and play the fairground games along the seafront."
This is part of the Volume: HEC01/128/02/04 Picturing High Streets: Mass Participation Project - High Street Hangouts; within the Sub Series: HEC01/128/02 Picturing High Streets: Mass Participation Project; within the Series: HEC01/128 Picturing High Streets; within the Collection: HEC01 Historic England
© Natalie Persoglio
Photographer: Persoglio, Natalie
21st Century Amusement Arcade, Seaside, Street Scene
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