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 ‘Art in the Streets’. The brief for this theme was: ‘Show us the people, public art and performances that turn your high street into a piece of art. From street art to street dance, murals to window displays, local characters to hidden hang outs.'
The photographer wrote the following text to explain how their image relates to this theme: "I saw this scene unfolding from the other side of the street, almost like a stage set. It captures fascinating graffiti street art, some very old signage and reference to Salford’s own LS Lowry, as well as Banksy."
This is part of the Volume: HEC01/128/02/17 Picturing High Streets: Mass Participation Project - Art in the Streets; 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
© Ron Pengelly
Photographer: Pengelly, Ron
21st Century Graffiti, Art And Design
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