UNION by Natalie Willatt
Photobook Launch
25th May, 3 PM
Spode Museum, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 1QD

As a legacy to her two year Residency in Stoke town’s Heritage Action Zone photographer Natalie Willatt has reengaged with communities that she worked with to create a photobook.

UNION tells the story of the high street and the local communities that are a key part of Stoke, one of the six towns that make up Stoke-on-Trent. Focussing on themes of belief and faith, in all their forms, from religious worship to music fandom, and from football team loyalty to allotment gardening, the photographs show different forms of congregation, community and union. They offer an alternative view to the commonly held idea of a neglected high street, and demonstrate the joy and community that exists on our high streets, often behind closed doors.

Workshops with participants inspired the production of the photobook, and two new pieces of commissioned writing by Rebecca Nunes and Martin Gooding contextualise the work in Stoke town as part of Picturing High Streets. The publication has been designed by Chris Neophytou.

The photobook will be launched at an event at Spode Museum and distributed to all participants, as well as to the libraries and community spaces in Stoke.

Picturing High Streets is a three year project by Historic England and Photoworks to create a contemporary portrait of England’s high streets, part of Historic England’s government-funded High Streets Heritage Action Zone scheme.