Amy CorringhamSalford’s community has created a set of banners celebrating the city, and they are now touring the places where the people live who created and inspired them.
The Salford Voices Banner Exhibition, from award-winning Salford arts company Art with Heart, was made by local residents at Broughton Community Centre with artists Chris Alton and Emily Simpson.
The exhibition, which draws on several generations of the community, opened at Salford Museum and Art Gallery earlier this year. It is now on a seven-venue autumn tour, which began at Media City. The remaining stops include leisure centres, a shopping centre and community hubs across the city. These events on the tour allow a space to see the banners and have an interactive experience that resonates with visitors and invites them to reflect on Salford’s history.
The banners came out of artist-led workshops and a visit to the People’s History Museum, where participants explored the long tradition of protest and community banners. It includes art from younger generations who are looking to Salford’s future, while others reflect on its past and on what has made the city what it is. The designs bring together Salford’s landmarks, green spaces, waterways, industrial heritage and its modern media and technology industries.
The banners include a range of symbols from birds to represent migration to a sycamore tree from one contributor’s garden, each allows a different interpretation of Salford and personal approach.
The exhibition has been designed so that everyone can experience it. It includes audio description by access consultant Ada Eravama, and two small tactile banners let blind and partially sighted visitors explore elements of the work through touch.
Rosie Sergent, a freelance producer and artist who founded the zine project Drawn Poorly, is one of the artists running the tour’s craft pop-ups. “This is celebrating different art groups,’ she says, “and taking it out and about in public places allows people to physically come and see this artwork.
“We are interested in making things happen and allowing a space for people to create art which is authentic to them. Salford seems to be overlooked and is known as the second city, but there is a huge amount of history, warmth and sense of community here that these banners represent. As well as celebrating all the different arts groups which create Salford.”
Alongside the banners, free craft pop-ups offer Salford-themed activities such as zine-making, poetry and portrait drawing. The sessions are led by local artists including Rosie Sergent, community artist Phoebe Foxtrot, illustrator Alison Erika Forde, writer and performer Jenny May Morgan and mural painter Becki Miller.
Visitors can also sign a Centenary Celebration Book, made by Salford family bookbinders Walker Print, and write about the kind of place they would like Salford to be in 100 years’ time. Signatories so far include City Mayor Paul Dennett, Coronation Street actor Cath Tyldesley, members of the Salford Red Devils supporters’ club and the city’s Local History Society.
Where to see it:
• Worsley Leisure Centre: Monday 12 October, 3pm–7pm
• Broughton Hub: Wednesday 14 October. Banners on display 3pm–5pm, then zines, craft and portraits with Phoebe Foxtrot 5pm–8pm
• Swinton Gateway: Monday 19 to Friday 23 October in the upstairs exhibition space, with pop-up activities on Monday 19 October, 4.30pm–8.30pm
• Irlam and Cadishead Leisure Centre: Tuesday 27 October, 1.30pm–5.30pm
• Walkden Shopping Centre: Wednesday 28 October, 11am–3pm
• Langworthy Cornerstone: Monday 2 to Friday 6 November, 9am–8pm, with a closing celebration on Friday 6 November, 11am–1pm
Visit artwithheart.org.uk for more information. Read our interview with artist Emily Simpson.
Carmel Thomason
Steve Timms
