‘We are Bransholme’ exhibition celebrates its ‘fabulous’ people

Documentary photographer Jason Shipley has been commissioned by arts organisation Back to Ours to capture the pictures and stories of Bransholme people in a new exhibition, We Are Bransholme, opening this week.

The Back to Ours team has been engaging audiences on the estate for years with their popular music gigs, children’s shows and huge 2019 punk-pop circus opera Back to Bransholme, staged in the car park of North Point Shopping Centre.

Their National Lottery Community Fund-funded Bransholme Chat shop is now in its second year at the centre, making connections with local people talking and regular events.

This continued through three lockdowns, with the shop switching to phone calls and newsletters to make sure vulnerable people were supported and had someone to chat to on a weekly basis.

Jason is a renowned Hull-born photographer who works internationally. He has been exhibited in The British Museum, Glasgow Gallery, The Warren in Hull, and been featured in numerous magazines and books.

His work on We Are Bransholme is about reaching across the estate and talking to people, making connections and having wider conversations about their lives.

He said: “‘I wanted to help people tell their own story of Bransholme.

“I knew this is a fabulous community and wanted to explore some of things that bind people together and celebrate that with the people here.

“For example, the sense that people care for another, lean in and help each other out, care about the place and celebrate the hundreds and thousands of positive stories that exist here.

“I wanted to photographically record these moments and some of the many people that make up this place.”

He added: “I’ve been blown away by everyone, how welcoming they’ve been and how much positivity there is here. Even when there are occasional challenges for some, as we all have, it’s how people respond and overcome.

“I love this place.”

The exhibition artwork has been printed by Ollie at Friends On Every Street, and features black and white images of more than 70 Bransholme locals.

Participant Liah Crammond said: “Being a part of this documentary has been an absolute honour from start to finish.

“I messaged Jason for personal reasons and ended up being a part of this documentary. We’ve laughed, cried, danced and sang, and the children in our neighbourhood now have memories of growing up on Bransholme together that they will always cherish.”

“Thank you to all involved.”

You can see We Are Bransholme at Bransholme Chat, North Point Shopping Centre, from until July 23. The shop is open from Tuesday to Friday between 10am and noon, and from 1pm to 3pm.

Back to Ours is one of 30 Arts Council-funded Creative People and Places projects across the UK.