Picturing England’s High Street is a three year project which will deliver six photographer-in-residence programmes at six high street locations across England, as well as artist mentoring and a digital nationwide mass participation project.

The photographer-in-residence programmes are a key part of this project. The six photographers-in-residence will work with local communities to reimagine the high street, producing images which will become part of the Historic England archive. High street users and the community are at the heart of this project and we are looking for photographers whose practice is socially engaged.

The six photographers-in-residence will be selected via open calls beginning in March 2021. Working closely with Photoworks, Open Eye Gallery, Photofusion and QUAD/Format we will select six photographers via an open call to be part of the six photographer-in-residence programmes working closely with local communities in Coventry and Stoke-on-Trent (GRAIN Projects), Prescot and Chester (Open Eye Gallery), in London (Photofusion) and in Leicester (QUAD/ FORMAT).

The photographer-in-residence programmes will also include mentoring support delivered by Impressions Gallery, PARC (Photography and the Archive Research Centre), Redeye The Photography Network, ReFramed and The Photographers’ Gallery.

Picturing England’s High Street will also include a digital mass participation project due to launch in 2022. More news on this will be announced soon.

How to apply

The Open Calls for Coventry, Stoke-on-Trent, Prescot and Chester will launch in March 2021. Followed by Leicester and London, which will launch in Spring 2021. Please sign up to register your interest and to be notified when each open call goes live.

Register your interest via

Open Calls: Historic England, Picturing England’s High Streets – Photoworks

The residencies will take place at different high street Heritage Action Zone across England. The locations are:

Coventry – working with GRAIN Projects

Coventry is a city with a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages. Now a diverse and young city, and UK City of Culture 2021. Coventry’s buildings tell the story of a proud, innovative past built on peace and reconciliation. Today Coventry is a city of sanctuary, diverse cultures and communities. We are looking to select one artist to work as photographer-in-residence in Coventry. This residency will be led by GRAIN Projects and will draw on their regional expertise and existing connections in the local community. The open call for the Coventry photographer-in-residence will go live in March 2021. Find out more about this opportunity and our partner GRAIN Projects here.

Stoke-on-Trent – working with GRAIN Projects

Stoke-on-Trent is a city in Staffordshire formed by the federation of six towns. Since the 17th century the area has been the home of the pottery industry in England.  The six towns are tight knit communities, all distinct with a rich and unique heritage. We are looking to select one artist to work as photographer-in-residence in Stoke-on-Trent. This residency will be led by GRAIN Projects and will draw on their regional expertise and existing connections in the local community. The open call for the Stoke-on-Trent photographer-in-residence will go live in March 2021. Find out more about this opportunity and our partner GRAIN Projects here.

Prescot – working with Open Eye Gallery

Prescot was a market town known as ‘a town of workshops’ because of its diverse commercial activities that included all stages of watchmaking, pottery, coal mining and tool making. The photographer-in-residence programme in Prescot will coincide with the opening of The Shakespeare North Playhouse which is currently under construction in the town and Knowsley’s role in Liverpool’s Borough of Culture status for 2022. We are looking to select one artist to work as photographer-in-residence in Prescot. This residency will be led by Open Eye Gallery and will draw on their existing connections in the local community. The open call for the Prescot photographer-in-residence will go live in March 2021. Find out more about our partner Open Eye Gallery here.

Chester – working with Open Eye Gallery

Chester’s regeneration plan and the High Street Heritage Action Zone is focused around the Chester Rows and surrounding area. We are looking to select one artist to work as photographer-in-residence in Chester. This residency will be led by Open Eye Gallery and will draw on their regional expertise and existing connections in the local community. The open call for the Chester photographer-in-residence will go live in March 2021. Find out more about our partner Open Eye Gallery here.

London – working with Photofusion

We are looking to select one artist to work as photographer-in-residence in London. This residency will be led by Photofusion and will draw on their expertise and existing connections in the local community. More information about this opportunity and details about the open call for the London photographer-in-residence will be released in Spring 2021. Find out more about our partner Photofusion here.

Leicester – working with QUAD/ FORMAT

We are looking to select one artist to work as photographer-in-residence in Leicester. This residency will be led by QUAD/FORMAT and will draw on their expertise and existing connections in the local community. More information about this opportunity and details about the open call for the Leicester photographer-in-residence will go live in Spring 2021. Find out more about our partner QUAD/FORMAT here.