WINNING photographs from a nationwide call-out will be displayed at Prescot Shopping Centre from today.
The display, collated with images chosen out of more than 1,000 entries, forms part of a major travel exhibition that will tour England.
The photographs, capturing high streets from all across the country, will be displayed on the shopping centre window, with work from local residents also featured in the display.
The outdoor exhibition, called Picturing High Streets, launched today, Wednesday, March 22, with its travel across England beginning with a month-long display at Prescot Shopping Centre.
The exhibition is part of a three-year project by Historic England and Photoworks, in partnership with national and regional photography organisations, to create a contemporary portrait of England’s high streets.
The exhibition is free to visit and showcases a selection of photographs from thousands submitted by the public documenting and celebrating the high street of today.
The Prescot display is facilitated by photographer-in-residence Tony Mallon, who since 2021, has been working with local Prescot residents to reimagine the high street and create a contemporary portrait of the area.
Tony Mallon, photographer-in-residence, said: "The Picturing the High Street Project has provided the opportunity for local residents to come together and share their memories and stories of the high street.
"Photography walks have revealed, for many, Prescot’s rich and hidden history.
"The participants have expressed that the high street should still be the beating heart of our town centres and have been enthusiastic about capturing a slice of social history - photographing shoppers, shop owners, and the buildings and spaces they frequent most days to shop and socialise."
Why the exhibition was created
The exhibition invites the public to reflect on the purpose of the high street and illustrates the history and experiences of the people and places that make up an often-overlooked fixture in all our lives.
The display includes street scenes, portraiture, candid shots, architectural photography, special effects, black and white formats, and documentary styles, with the collection collated to celebrate photography in all its forms.
The 65 winning photographs were accumulated by a range of participants, including young people in workshops, amateurs using camera phones, artists, camera clubs, and professionals.
The exhibition will be on display at Prescot Shopping Centre until Sunday, April 23.
The full 65 images can be viewed online here.
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