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 ‘Signs of Spring’. The brief for this theme was: ‘As the clocks go forward soon and the nights start to shorten, we’re celebrating spring equinox by asking you to show us your signs of spring, regrowth and regeneration on the high street.'
The photographer wrote the following text to explain how their image relates to this theme: "This image shows flower displays prepared for mothers day by the local florist, with the first spring flowers. The florist had made so many bouquets and displays that weekend that they had to extend the display to the shop next door."
This is part of the Volume: HEC01/128/02/15 Picturing High Streets: Mass Participation Project - Signs of Spring; 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
© Alexandra Stone
Photographer: Stone, Alexandra
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