VIDEO: What is Socially Engaged Photographic Practice?
What do we mean by socially engaged? On 12th October 2017, one week after the launch of ‘Culture Shifts: Local’ at Open Eye Gallery, Culture Shifts producer Liz Wewiora and photographers Gary Bratchford and Robert Parkinson led a discussion on how photography can become more engaged.
Gary and Rob worked with Women of Windmill Hill and Widnes Vikings Golden Generation Group for their As and When project. This project looked at the different reasons communities come together, how groups form an understanding of themselves, and what we mean by health and wellbeing. The project forms part of Open Eye Gallery’s Culture Shifts: Local exhibition, and is also the basis of a new publication, designed by Craig Oldham.
Liz Wewiora is a leader in socially engaged practice nationally. She has written for A Social Practice, and carried out a number of socially engaged photography projects. As Open Eye Gallery’s producer for all Culture Shifts projects, she is responsible for co-ordinating photography projects based on establishing connections with communities and encouraging collaborative approaches.