The Photo Album of the Irish: England project is inviting people with Irish heritage to contribute an archive that celebrates the histories of people with Irish heritage, reflected through family photographs across generations.
We are inviting 3 individuals to bring their photographs to a Photo Album workshop on the 28th of June from 3 pm – 5pm in the Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool. We will work with you to scan your photographs which will be returned to you immediately. Sessions will be 40 minutes each.
More information on Open Eye Gallery.
We are interested in different types of photographs: from old black & white photographs dating from the mid-19th century to colour photographs from the 1960s-1990s. The older the better!
We are particularly interested in photographs that illustrate family histories across generations in Liverpool and beyond.
Ideally the photographs will be clear and in focus: they will be in good condition and may be loose or in albums, but not in sealed frames.
We cannot accept photocopies, poor-quality laser prints or images from your smartphone/social media.
We will ask you for some information on your family heritage and any information you might know about the photos.
The project includes a website, full-colour publication and a touring pop-up exhibition. You can find more information on our website: www.photoalbumoftheirish.com
This project is organised in partnership with Open Eye Gallery and is supported by the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme.
This project is part of a wider Photo Album of the Irish project organised by Photo Museum Ireland: https://photomuseumireland.ie/
About the Project:
The Photo Album of the Irish: England Edition celebrates the ordinary and extraordinary histories of individuals and families in England with Irish heritage across generations, reflected in family photo albums. The Photo Album project draws on a rich but untapped visual resource – family photo albums to build digital photographic archives that record the diverse social history of the Irish in England. The project explores and celebrates the unique links between Ireland and its Diaspora in an accessible and engaging way, sharing the research through a programme of events, exhibitions and a full-colour publication.
The Photo Album of the Irish: England edition aims to:
Record, preserve, acknowledge, share and make visible the experiences of people across generations, encouraging inter-generational, intersectional dialogues.
Utilise digital scanning and online platforms to reach extended family networks.
Celebrate diverse and particular histories of the Irish Diaspora in England.
Publish previously unseen family archives creating a unique and engaging record.
Pass on digital scanning skills to partners building sustainability.
Build on recent photo album work with the Irish/American and Irish/Canadian Diaspora.
Foster connectedness by sharing outputs with audiences in England and globally, creating a legacy for the future.
The project exhibition, book and online archive will present a diverse and varied insight into the family histories of the Irish Diaspora that is at once personal and universal.
The Photo Album of the Irish: England is the latest edition of the wider Photo Album of the Irish Digital Archive project. Begun in 2014, the project celebrates the ordinary and extraordinary histories of people with Irish heritage across generations. It is building a unique visual record that is at once personal and universal.
Images: © Courtesy McCourt family collection
Supported by the Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme. Organised in partnership with Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool