PICTURING HIGH STREETS
As part of a three-year project led by Photoworks to create a contemporary picture of England's high streets, we are asking for your photos.
Starting from September 2022, we are inviting the public to submit their photos of the high street on Instagram so that we can document and celebrate the high street of today.
Over the next 12 months, we will post a new challenge every fortnight on a different high street theme: from celebrating local high street heroes that make our places so special, to capturing favourite hang outs and meeting places, to recording the hidden heritage of our high streets. Here’s how to take part:
- Follow @PicturingHighStreets on Instagram and look out for the fortnightly challenges
- Submit your photographs by posting them on Instagram using the hashtag #PicturingHighStreets and tagging @PicturingHighStreets (please note they will only be able to see your image if your profile is set to public)
- Please read the guidance to check you are following the requirements
The most evocative photographs will be featured on the Picturing High Streets Instagram channel.
“TO COMPLETE THE CHALLENGES – FRONTED BY PHOTOGRAPHERS, CELEBRITIES AND COMMUNITY LEADERS – YOU WILL NEED TO VISIT YOUR LOCAL HIGH STREETS AND DISCOVER THE SECRET STORIES OF THESE PLACES OF COMMERCE, CONVERSATION AND COMMUNITY.”
GUIDANCE FOR SUBMITTING PHOTOS
Photographs should be suitable for a public platform and taken on a high street in England.
OBTAINING CONSENT
When your image contains people, in some circumstances you will need to use the Picturing High Street consent form. Street photography containing people, but where an individual is not the focus of the image, does not require a Consent form. However, a photograph of an identifiable individual in a private or public setting does require a Consent form. If needed, please download the Consent form found here and send it to PicturingHighStreets@HistoricEngland.org.uk
PHOTOGRAPHERS IN RESIDENCE
The is part of a three-year commission delivered by Photoworks as part of the High Streets Heritage Action Zone Cultural Programme, the largest ever community-led arts and heritage programme. In addition to the year-long call out, six artists, selected via open call, are undertaking residencies at six high street locations across England. The selected photographers are using a socially-engaged approach, working alongside local communities to create a contemporary portrait of England’s high streets between now and 2024. The images they produce will become part of the Historic England Archive.
The Photoworks commission is part of the High Streets Heritage Action Zones Cultural Programme, led by Historic England.