Picturing England's High Streets: Residency Announced

QUAD & FORMAT are delighted to announce the appointment of Khatun as the Historic England’s artist in residence in Leicester.

This project is part of a wider national programme led by Photoworks and Historic England. The residencies are for Picturing England’s High Streets, which is a three-year project as part of the national cultural programme for High Street Heritage Action Zones. The photographers will use a ‘socially-engaged’ approach, working alongside local communities, to create a contemporary portrait of England’s high streets between now and 2024. Starting immediately, the photographers-in-residence will work with local communities to reimagine the high street, producing images which will become part of the Historic England Archive. 

To host each residency, Photoworks and Historic England have partnered with photography organisations across England, including GRAIN Projects, Open Eye Gallery, QUAD/FORMAT, Photofusion and local partners. 

Users of the high streets and the community are at the heart of Picturing England’s High Streets, and each selected photographer has a link to the local high street area.

Khatun, Liecester

QUAD/FORMAT are delighted to be supporting Khatun, an emerging artist who is originally from Leicester.  During the two year residency Khatun will work with leading cultural partners in the city, alongside diverse individuals and communities in the Leicester HAZ area of Church Gate and Granby Street. 

Khatun’s work explores the modernity of Britain’s identity and past notions of heritage and heritage sites. 

Khatun says: ‘Communities have always been at the forefront of my creative practice. Having been born and bred in the same house, on the same street, in Leicester, for nineteen years, instilled a deep sense of love for my city and for my surroundings. My intentions for my artistic endeavours remained consistent: to create participatory art that is engaging, liberating, and for it to carry a love of and for people and communities.’

Louise Fedotov-Clements, Artistic Director, QUAD/Director, FORMAT says: ‘We are thrilled to be working with Khatun for the residency, to deepen relationships with Leicester and the communities of the HAZ areas. Through the residency we look forward to supporting our artist on their journey to explore photography and socially engaged practice, something that we care passionately about“.

Khatun will also benefit from mentoring support delivered by Impressions Gallery, PARC (Photography and the Archive Research Centre), Redeye The Photography Network, ReFramed and The Photographers’ Gallery.  

Tamsin Silvey, Cultural Programme Curator, Historic England said: “Picturing England’s High Streets is an ambitious and long-running photography commission, that aims to get under the skin of our high streets and capture people’s hopes and dreams. To see this cohort of exceptional photographers come together is truly exciting. I’m looking forward to seeing them bring this commission to life.” 
 

ENDS

To find out what is happening in your area and get involved, please follow @HistoricEngland #HistoricHighStreets #PicturingCoventry #PicturingStoke #PicturingChester #PicturingPrescot and visit: www.HistoricEngland.org.uk/HighStreetCulture