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.
The photographs in this set were selected to represent the theme ‘New Year, New Hopes’. The brief for this theme was: ‘It’s a new year and with it come promises, plans and pledges. What are you hopes for the future of the high street near you?’
The photographer wrote the following text to explain how their image relates to this theme: "Every 6th January the Bodmin Wassailers celebrate Twelfth Night by parading through the high street, visiting shops, pubs, houses and nursing homes to mark the end of the Christmas celebrations and the New Year. Umbrellas protect their top hats and tails as they greet everyone, sharing songs, stories and drink."
This is part of the Volume: HEC01/128/02/10 Picturing High Streets: Mass Participation Project - New Year, New Hopes; 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
© Jocelyn Murgatroyd
Photographer: Murgatroyd, Jocelyn
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