A new free exhibition exploring Chatham High Street from two award-winning local photographers is coming to Rochester Art Gallery.
‘Upon the High Street’ will run from Friday, 27 October 2023 to Saturday, 13 January 2024, with a special preview evening on Thursday, 26 October from 6.30pm to 8.30pm which is open to all.
Medway-raised photographers Joshua Atkins and Daniel Loveday’s work explores how the high street is an ever-changing environment and documents the challenges faced by high streets across the country.
The project captures the people and landscape of Chatham High Street and the surrounding area, and celebrates Chatham’s history and the diversity of its residents.
A selection of the images in the exhibition were featured in the Turner Contemporary Open. Joshua Atkins has previously won the British Journal of Photography’s ‘Portrait of Britain’ award and Daniel Loveday has won the British Journal of Photography’s ‘Portrait of Humanity’ award.
Insightful and intriguing exhibition
Cllr Harinder Mahil, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Heritage, Culture and Leisure, said: "It is fantastic to have yet another free exhibition at Rochester Art Gallery, and it is brilliant that we are able to showcase local talent. This exhibition will give people a chance to look at Chatham High Street in a new way, exploring the stories you may not usually notice as you walk through the heart of Chatham. I would encourage as many people as possible to come along to what is sure to be an insightful and intriguing exhibition.”
As part of the exhibition, there will be two free photography workshops at Chatham Library and Community Hub with the artists on Saturday, 4 November and Saturday, 2 December.
The workshops will run from 11am to 1pm on both days and will include a talk from the photographers before heading for the opportunity to take your own photos and document the history of Chatham.
The workshops are suitable for people aged over 15-years-old and are free to attend, but must be pre-booked either online, by visiting one of our libraries or by calling 01634 337799.
Rochester Art Gallery is open between 10am - 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday at Medway Visitor Centre, 95 High Street, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1LX.