Call for Eccles residents to be a part of historic Eccles project
Picturing Eccles, running until June 2024, will celebrate Eccles through the photography of Eccles residents and the town’s very own Photographer in Residence Paula Keenan.
Eccles is embarking on an ambitious regeneration programme to reinvent itself with a vibrant town centre through major change. The programme is a shared vision and collaborative project as Salford City Council are working closely with local organisations, community groups and businesses to create and deliver these changes.
This project was formed between Salford City Council and Open Eye Gallery as a way to strengthen this further and celebrate local culture at this exciting time for Eccles.
Paula Keenan as Photographer in Residence will be delivering a range of workshops and activities in Eccles. Paula is seeking Eccles residents who are interested in getting involved. Whether you avidly document life in Eccles with your smartphone or have never touched a camera but would like to learn photography and explore Eccles, this project is for you.
Paula would also love to hear from anyone who has historical images of Eccles. This could be images from when the mills were running, through to a day out you had with your family in the 90s – all of this would help inform and inspire the project. Send them through to picturingeccles@gmail.com
Together with Paula, the participants will build a body of work that reflects the past, present and future of Eccles, which will become a public celebration and showing of the work in the summer of 2024.
Councillor Hannah Robinson-Smith Executive Support Member for Culture, Communications and Strategic Priorities at Salford City Council said: “With the upcoming changes and development planned in Eccles, photography is the ideal medium to preserve the history of a town as well as celebrating its future.
“Picturing Eccles will look at the town through a new lens and I’d encourage all amateur photographers to get involved in this special project.”
Photographer Paula Keenan said: “I am delighted to have been selected to work with the community in Eccles and hope to embrace the history of the town along with the celebration of the changes that will happen as the town centre develops. I am keen to hear from anyone who is part of a group active in Eccles that would like support to record their activities and celebrate their achievements. I would like to interview and photograph anyone you know who has a rich history living in Eccles. If you know of any hidden gems please get in touch!”
