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.
This photograph was selected to represent the theme ‘Christmas Crackers’. The brief for this theme was: ‘The busy Christmas period transforms the high street. These bustling scenes show streets looking merry and bright, with festive window displays, twinkling Christmas lights, and determined shoppers navigating the Christmas rush.’
The photographer wrote the following text to explain how their image relates to this theme: "My photo for ‘Christmas Crackers’ shows sprouts on sale for Christmas at traditional Whitby grocer R.A. Willison. Established in 1800, retaining it’s original historic appearance, the grocer is a Whitby mainstay and despite a closure over covid it remains a stalwart fixture in town with wonderful service and local produce."
This is part of the Volume: HEC01/128/02/06 Picturing High Streets: Mass Participation Project - Christmas Crackers; 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
© Aisling Austin
Photographer: Austin, Aisling
21st Century Greengrocers Shop, Food And Drink, Shops And Shopping
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