A free lecture and panel discussion from photographers Craig Easton, Michelle Sank and Jillian Edelstein about their contributions to the multimedia project Sixteen, which explores the dreams, hopes and fears of sixteen-year olds across the UK.

Sixteen is an age of transition, of developmental, and of social change. At this time of increasing national and international anxiety, these young people are shifting from adolescence to become the adults who will live in a politically reshaped country, divorced from the European Union.

This event is especially for local photography students (whether at Uni, college, sixth form, or independent) and anyone who is interested in socially-engaged photographic practice.

The lecture will be immediately followed by public previews of SIXTEEN at:

New Adelphi Gallery and Atrium, University of Salford - 4.30pm, Friday 15 February 2019.

HOME, Manchester, 7.30pm, Friday 15 February 2019.

ABOUT THE SIXTEEN PROJECT

Photographer Craig Easton conceived this ambitious project following his engagement with sixteen-year olds at the time of the Scottish Referendum. It was the first, and as yet only, time that these young people were given the vote in the UK. Building on the success of that work he invited 16 of the UK’s foremost documentary portrait photographers to collaborate with young people across the country to make a visual vox pop on what it means to be sixteen now.

Photographers: Linda Brownlee, David Copeland, Lottie Davies, Craig Easton, Jillian Edelstein, Stuart Freedman, Sophie Gerrard, Kate Kirkwood, Kalpesh Lathigra, Ronan McKenzie, Roy Mehta, Christopher Nunn, Kate Peters, Michelle Sank, Abbie Trayler-Smith, Simon Roberts.

Working with photography, film, social media, audio recordings and writing, the project brings together the faces and voices of more than a hundred young people from diverse communities across the United Kingdom. Locations span large conurbations such as London, Birmingham and Manchester, the South West, Northern Ireland, the Scottish Islands, and post-industrial areas of the North.

The photographers open up conversations with these young people about their hopes and fears, and who or what sustains them, giving prominence to voices rarely heard. The project explores how social background, personal histories, gender, beliefs, ethnicity, and location all might influence aspiration.

Thanks to a National Lottery grant from Arts Council England Sixteen will tour nationally, starting in February 2019 with exhibitions in North West England and the Midlands.

This integration of stunning portraits and young peoples’ candid reflections will tour to institutions and organisations, arts festivals, and venues beyond the boundaries of the museum. Each venue will co-curate a selection of the work inspired by their own location, relevant topics and themes. Dedicated engagement programmes will encourage further conversations with young people across the country.

Photograph by Craig Easton (and is cropped) - 'Enya, Brae, Shetland'