Work and Trades - 2024
Consett's history is intricately tied to the Iron Industry, with the area witnessing Britain's first blast furnace in the late 1600s, supplying steel to the 'Sword makers' of Shotley Bridge. Industrial ironmaking commenced with Cowleys Ironworks in 1691, and the Consett Iron Company was established in 1840. At its peak, employment exceeded 6000, with additional workforce contributions from the railway and mining industries. However, the closure of the industry in 1980 resulted in 4000 job losses, prompting Consett to diversify its employment landscape.
The Northeast boasts some of the finest craftsmen and women, nevertheless, in an ever-evolving employment scenario where tasks and trades can be replicated mechanically and more recently, through AI, uncertainties arise about the future of these traditional professions. In response, we are eager to document people actively practicing their trades in their natural environments, creating a lasting record that showcases the diverse range of trades and employment prevalent in the area.
Consett's history is intricately tied to the Iron Industry, with the area witnessing Britain's first blast furnace in the late 1600s, supplying steel to the 'Sword makers' of Shotley Bridge. Industrial ironmaking commenced with Cowleys Ironworks in 1691, and the Consett Iron Company was established in 1840. At its peak, employment exceeded 6000, with additional workforce contributions from the railway and mining industries. However, the closure of the industry in 1980 resulted in 4000 job losses, prompting Consett to diversify its employment landscape.
The Northeast boasts some of the finest craftsmen and women, nevertheless, in an ever-evolving employment scenario where tasks and trades can be replicated mechanically and more recently, through AI, uncertainties arise about the future of these traditional professions. In response, we are eager to document people actively practicing their trades in their natural environments, creating a lasting record that showcases the diverse range of trades and employment prevalent in the area.
Consett @ Play -2023
Consett at Play aims to capture the leisure activities that residents engage in, activities that may not traditionally be considered artistic. Recognizing the rich history of diverse leisure pursuits in Consett, which have served as both an escape from daily routines and a source of social unity, we believe these activities deserve documentation and celebration.
In the face of Consett's recent growth, increased diversity, and decentralisation, these leisure activities may be less conspicuous, but we believe they persist if we take a closer look. Our focus concentrates on documenting core activities such as traditional sports like football, cricket, and rugby, as well as less conventional ones like karate, shooting, and bowls. Additionally, we aim to include pursuits such as keep-fit, dancing, board games, and more. We remain open to discovering and highlighting other activities as the community becomes aware of our project.
Consett at Play aims to capture the leisure activities that residents engage in, activities that may not traditionally be considered artistic. Recognizing the rich history of diverse leisure pursuits in Consett, which have served as both an escape from daily routines and a source of social unity, we believe these activities deserve documentation and celebration.
In the face of Consett's recent growth, increased diversity, and decentralisation, these leisure activities may be less conspicuous, but we believe they persist if we take a closer look. Our focus concentrates on documenting core activities such as traditional sports like football, cricket, and rugby, as well as less conventional ones like karate, shooting, and bowls. Additionally, we aim to include pursuits such as keep-fit, dancing, board games, and more. We remain open to discovering and highlighting other activities as the community becomes aware of our project.
Consett:Town of Culture
Our aim is to document the artistic life, in the broadest sense, of the people of the town. We are aware that, historically, Consett had a extensive and vibrant cultural life with numerous choirs, drama groups, music ensembles etc., as well as individual performers, both entertaining the citizens and providing an artistic outlet for the people of the town. We were also aware that these activities brought an element of social cohesion to the town that is worthy of both documenting and celebrating.
In recent years, this has become less obvious but we felt that it was probably still there if we looked. Therefore we decided to investigate and contact various groups and individuals that we thought might be involved. It was expected that once we became known, and posted photographs on Facebook and our website, that interested groups and individuals would contact us directly.
We decided that the core activities we would document would be theatres and drama groups, community centre clubs, singers and choirs, school music, dance groups, and artists. It was also hoped that other activities would become apparent to us once people became aware of the project.
Our aim is to document the artistic life, in the broadest sense, of the people of the town. We are aware that, historically, Consett had a extensive and vibrant cultural life with numerous choirs, drama groups, music ensembles etc., as well as individual performers, both entertaining the citizens and providing an artistic outlet for the people of the town. We were also aware that these activities brought an element of social cohesion to the town that is worthy of both documenting and celebrating.
In recent years, this has become less obvious but we felt that it was probably still there if we looked. Therefore we decided to investigate and contact various groups and individuals that we thought might be involved. It was expected that once we became known, and posted photographs on Facebook and our website, that interested groups and individuals would contact us directly.
We decided that the core activities we would document would be theatres and drama groups, community centre clubs, singers and choirs, school music, dance groups, and artists. It was also hoped that other activities would become apparent to us once people became aware of the project.
Consett Corona Photo Project - 2020 - 2022
Our first photography project involved capturing the effects of the Coronavirus on Consett and its communities. Some individuals endured the challenges of the National Lockdowns, while others worked throughout as essential Key workers. In the years to come, we anticipate collectively moving beyond the constraints and difficulties we faced, focusing instead on the unity within communities that emerged to support one another and mitigate the impact.
Our goal was to create a compilation of photographs for online display and physical exhibitions throughout the region.
We have held many exhibitions around the area including Willow Burn Hospice, Snods Edge Village Hall, St Patricks Church Hall, Blackhill Park, Consett HEART, Hamsterley Colliery Village Hall, Durham GALA and Ushaw Historic House. Other exhibitions will hopefully be arranged in future.
Our first photography project involved capturing the effects of the Coronavirus on Consett and its communities. Some individuals endured the challenges of the National Lockdowns, while others worked throughout as essential Key workers. In the years to come, we anticipate collectively moving beyond the constraints and difficulties we faced, focusing instead on the unity within communities that emerged to support one another and mitigate the impact.
Our goal was to create a compilation of photographs for online display and physical exhibitions throughout the region.
We have held many exhibitions around the area including Willow Burn Hospice, Snods Edge Village Hall, St Patricks Church Hall, Blackhill Park, Consett HEART, Hamsterley Colliery Village Hall, Durham GALA and Ushaw Historic House. Other exhibitions will hopefully be arranged in future.