UK’s biggest outdoor photo festival creates Preston’s ‘Temple of Photography’

Lancashire Photography Festival Hit Singles display Pic: Garry Cook — The site that has been nicknamed the Temple of Photography Pic: Garry Cook

The UK’s biggest outdoor photography festival launches in Preston this June displaying major projects from several internationally-acclaimed photographers.

The first phase of the Lancashire Photography Festival installation is almost complete, with several huge screaming faces pasted-up across the city.

Lancashire Photography Festival - Scream opposite the Bus Station Pic: Garry Cook — Scream images pasted up opposite the Bus Station Pic: Garry Cook

Lancashire Photography Festival - Scream at Past Times Pic: Garry Cook — More Scream images have been installed at the former Past Times building Pic: Garry Cook

The work of almost 50 local photographers has also been put on display, with dozens of large-scale images pasted up on the site of the former Tokyo Jo’s nightclub on Sykes Street Car Park and on Lowthian Street.

These images – from a call out named Hit Singles – have transformed the walls of the former nightclub and hundreds of people have already visited the site, which has been nicknamed the Temple of Photography.

Visitors at the Lancashire Photography Festival Hit Singles display Pic: Garry Cook — Visitors have described the Hit Singles display as amazing and inspiring Pic: Garry Cook

The rest of Lancashire Photography Festival will be installed over the next two weeks.

Featuring the work of Martin Parr, Jenny Lewis, Maryam Wahid, Ian Beesley, Dougie Wallace, Serena Dzenis, Bobby Beasley and Sarah Maple, photography will be displayed in parks and on walls across the city.

Many more photographers will have large-scale single images on display, while an extensive engagement program will see multiple opportunities for local people to take part in the festival, either by taking photographs or by being photographed.

Organiser Garry Cook said: “The reaction to the first phase of the festival has been phenomenal. So many people have already been to Sykes Street Car Park to see the giant images of wrestlers, Lancashire landscapes and people portraits.

“The Scream images at the old Past Times building and opposite Preston Bus Station have been putting smiles on people’s faces. I’ve had hundreds and hundreds of comments on social media already. Everyone is loving it.”

One photographer said: “I cannot begin to tell you how proud I am for having one of my photos, taken with my dear late dad’s camera, being displayed on Lowthian Street as part of Lancashire Photography Festival.

A visitor to site said: “My wife and I had a look yesterday and found it amazing and inspiring.”

The festival is funded by Arts Council England, with support from Friends of Winckley Square CIC and Preston City Council.

Full details about Lancashire Photography Festival can be found on the Enjoy the Show website.