New Focus, a dynamic group of young people based at Impressions Gallery in Bradford, has received £34,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) ‘Young Roots’ scheme for No Man’s Land: Young People Uncover Women’s Viewpoints on the First World War. Led by New Focus, whose volunteer members are aged 16 to 25, the project will bring to light rarely-seen photographs made by women at the frontline to record their experiences.
Image 3: From the left, James Barlow, Aditya Pande, Chupei Zang and Olivia Springer in a workshop led by Professor Alison Fell © Impressions Gallery
The project will enable at least 14 local young volunteers to learn research skills and get hands-on experience working in archives. New Focus will work with experts from The Peace Museum, Bradford, the University of Leeds, and IWM (Imperial War Museums). New Focus member Serena Gosal says “We’re getting a chance to look at things the public don’t usually get to see”. Gaurav Bhardwaj adds, “I’m very excited to work on the project... there are so many stories and photographs showing what women were doing during the First World War, which people should know about and appreciate”.
Thanks to National Lottery players the young people will investigate photographs taken by women including female ambulance drivers, professional photographers and Red Cross volunteers. New Focus member Asiya Hussain says, “The project offers a whole new viewpoint that hasn’t been recognised in general history, and I feel that this new insight is really interesting”.
New Focus will produce a publication and e-book, specially designed to be relevant for young people. The publication will be launched in October 2017 and distributed to thousands of young people in Bradford and beyond. New Focus will also run events and talks at Impressions Gallery. New Focus member James Barlow says ‘“It’s easy to forget different people’s contributions and experiences in wars”, and Chupei Zhang adds “this will help share their stories”.
Image 1: Hanna Ahmed (left) and Nazish Majid looking at items from the archive at The Peace Museum, Bradford
© Impressions Gallery
The project has been inspired by the Centenary of the First World War and the major exhibition No Man’s Land at Impressions Gallery, 6 October to 30 December 2017. Impressions Gallery is a national charity, based in Bradford, that helps people understand the world through photography.
Commenting on the award, Impressions’ Learning and Audience Development Coordinator Jennifer Sobol said: “We’re absolutely delighted that New Focus have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, and are confident the project will both support young people to develop creative skills and to gain a better understanding of women’s participation in the First World War”.
Charlotte Hall, Collections and Outreach Officer from the Peace Museum, Bradford, said: “No Man’s Land is an exciting and innovative project. It will help bring to light women’s photographs from the First World War and allow New Focus to experience museum collections in a different way. I am thrilled to show the young people around the museum and start demystifying museum collections with them”.
Professor Alison Fell, who heads the University of Leeds’ Legacies of War First World War Centenary research project, said: “The project will provide a fantastic opportunity to work with the hundreds of photographs both of and by women in the First World War that we have in our Special Collections. I’m looking forward to working with New Focus in order to discover some of these women’s stories, and to explore the different ways in which women were portrayed during the war”.
Liz Robertson, Programme Officer for the First World War Centenary Partnership, led by IWM (Imperial War Museums) said: “As members of the First World War Centenary Partnership, the largest national and international cultural and educational commemoration of the First World War, New Focus at Impressions Gallery will be making a critical contribution to the global First World War centenary programme. This international programme of events and activities brings together nations, communities and individuals from across the world, to mark, commemorate and remember the lives of those who lived, fought and died during the First World War. We’re very excited to share this unique project with the Partnership and audiences across the world.
For further information and images contact Jennifer Sobol, Learning and Audience Development Manager at jennifersobol@impressions-gallery.com or phone 01274 737843.
Contact Details
Impressions Gallery, Centenary Square, Bradford, BD1 1SD
Tel. 01274 737843
enquiries@impressions-gallery.com
