As I’ve mentioned previously, the National Media Museum will be producing the first major exhibition of We English. As part of the show, the Museum is commissioning a new photographic work for inclusion in the exhibition to be produced in the Bradford District.

Similarly to the Your Ideas which I sought last year, I will be seeking suggestions from the general public for this new work. I’m looking for events or leisure pursuits taking place in the Bradford District. These suggestions are crucial to the success of this commission. They can be anything from Sunday-league football and religious festivals to family traditions and bizarre rituals; from the ordinary and everyday, to the unique and extra-ordinary. They must be taking place outdoors and between now and November 2009.

Use the form on the National Media Museum website to publish your ideas straight to the suggestions page.

Simon Roberts: We English will be exhibited from 12 March – 5 September 2010.

The museum is open Tues – Sun, 10am – 6pm. Open Mondays during school and bank holidays.

National Media Museum
Bradford
West Yorkshire
BD1 1NQ

Here are some interesting (!?) ideas posted up by readers of the Bradford Telegraph & Argus newspaper.

Posted in YOUR IDEAS | Comments Off on NMM EXHIBITION, PART 1 – BRADFORD COMMISSION

I was interviewed by Etholle George this morning on BBC Radio Essex. Etholle put out a request to her listeners for ideas and events happening in Essex this week. I’ll post up up any interesting ones later.

 

Posted in REVIEWS & PRESS, YOUR IDEAS | Comments Off on

Apologies to anyone who received a photograph from me in the post this morning without the slip of paper explaining what it was for. No, I’m not trying to bribe you (as one worried caller enquired). It is in fact the limited edition print that was promised to the first 150 people who posted an idea on the website. 

By the way, it’s not a dead person in a hedge (as another caller enquired). It’s my parent’s neighbour, Henry, who was exploring the vegetation! A rather curious photograph, I know.

 

Posted in YOUR IDEAS | Comments Off on YOUR LIMITED EDITION PRINT

I’m afraid all 150 limited edition prints have now gone, but please keep your ideas coming. Here are some of my favourite ideas that have been posted up so far.

from Lloyd Spencer:

“Tourism is such a vital part of local economies. Most ‘traditional’ festivities are likely to have a big PR component. What interests me are the new ‘traditions’ that have been invented, especially where these really are ‘vernacular’. Here in Headingley, Leeds the traditional pub crawl has long been called the Otley Run as it goes along the Otley Road (A660). What is fairly new is how many groups adopt fancy dress so that on virtually any day one can meet people in the most extraordinary costumes walking past the local supermarket.”

from Tessa Bunney:

“I’m sure you will have considered fishing already but having spent a few years in my early freelance career photographing for fishing magazines, I was always fascinated by the (usually) men who sit on the edge of a very un-picturesque concrete hole with 3 fishing rods that beep when giant carp can’t help but bite only to throw them back in at the end of the day. Not sure if that’s peculiarly English but most other nations I’ve come across catch to eat!”

from Jo Foster-Murdoch:

“A flotilla of friends (from the very old to the very young) that only meet up once a year on an annual trip to the Norfolk Broads on the last week of July. Alcohol fuelled cruisers following a bunch of drunken musicians since 1965 who like to call themselves The Water Rats Jazz Band. Last year I think there were about 12 hire craft following the band from their lunchtime gigs at an ale house on the Broads to evening gigs in similar situ.  The next day – the whole process starts again.”

from Mike Bentley:

“Rock-climbing has its own particular style in the UK. A fierce ethic of not using artificial aid, especially on the short, tough gritstone climbs of the Peak District. This blossomed amongst the tough working class men of northern industrial towns like Sheffield escaping from the factories to find something ‘higher’ in their lives.”

from Dawn Hazle:

“Something really unusual, mostly unheard of by ‘normal’ people and actually quite popular are LARP (Live Action Role Playing) events.  LARP is usually a fantasy-genre role-playing event where people get dressed up and, in its most energetic form, people fight in swords-and-sorcery battles with ‘safe’ foam weapons.  It’s a bit like reenactment.”

from Kerri Hawkins:

“Walking my dogs through Box Hill on a bright, sunny summer’s morning, followed by a drink at any one of the pubs on the way back home for lunch. Nothing to beat it.”

from Sam Gee :

“The very low-key but not to be underestimated pastime of having an allotment. My father has one and derives a great deal of pleasure from growing enormous amounts of fruit and veg – including things you would not associate with the UK, like Pak Choi. I think the practice started during or between the World Wars, when food was scarce so home-grown was essential.”

from Nigel Smith:

“Otley Chevin (overlooks Otley) is a lovely place and you can watch the planes take off from Leeds Bradford Airport with a pint at the pub over the road.”

from Casey Floyd:

“Something that for me sums up rural traditions is the sight of my mother and all her friends competing for honour, bragging rights and top prizes of 50p at her village horticultural society shows. The Olympics don’t touch it. Sir Steven Redgrave would be crushed by the intensity of the competitive edge.”

from Niall Taylor:

“I suggest you go to Frinton-on-Sea in Essex, the home of my late grandparents. They were obsessed with being the right side of the level crossing (sea facing). Indeed you were not considered a proper Frintonian unless you lived ‘inside the gates’. In 2000 Frinton got its 1st pub to much public debate. My brother and I were sent to Frinton when we were little for the summer to attend a church summer school, this abruptly stopped when we were accused of deliberately ripping the wall paper in the lounge and promptly sent home.  I have really fond memories of a seaside town that was a little odd. Life for my grand parents revolved around the Golf Club, so this is where I’d love for you to go.”

from Michael Cockerham:

“I remember when growing up making the journey to see my Dad’s parents in Leeds and lying in the back of a clapped out Mini 850 watching the sky turn to black as we passed through the Peoples’ Republic of South Yorkshire, and its capital, Sheffield.  When the last of my Leeds relatives died, the family went to the funeral, but it was the journey back that was informative:  how many groups of people make journeys in convoy for whatever reason?  Like us, they always choose to stop at a prearranged service station to stretch legs.  Those service areas are so impersonal, and yet often they become an unintended last meeting place before groups split to go back to their everyday lives.

Next week, we’re heading through Hampshire and Surrey so if you have any ideas from these regions, let me know. Thanks!

 

Posted in YOUR IDEAS | Comments Off on YOUR IDEAS

I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has posted up an idea so far, there are some really fascinating ones including some very personal. I’m currently working my way through them and hope to be in touch with some of you very soon. I’ll be posting the limited edition print to people within the month, but please remember to include an address if you’d like to receive a print (your address won’t appear online).

Posted in YOUR IDEAS | Comments Off on THANKS