The Dudley People's Archive explores and
celebrates Dudley’s rich heritage and vibrant present through photography, art, publications and stories.
Do you have a story to tell? We're building an archive of images and art.
What we are looking for
We're looking for your photographs, videos, drawings, paintings, postcards, stories, poems & objects to include in the ever evolving archive.
Photos
We’d love to see any photos that you have locked away in your albums. Maybe you have some pics of growing up in the 80’s or parties on the park from the 70’s? Did you take part in a parade or take pics on your street of neighbours?
Stories
Do you have a story that you would like to share about the town? Maybe you use to go to JBs in the 80s & 90s and saw lots of great bands? Did you ever take part in the Coffin Race? Maybe you knew someone who could do something extraordinary?
Collect
Have you ever collected or bought work by a Dudley-based artist? Or maybe you have a unique collection yourself?
Take part
Would you like to take part in a project that helps us document the Dudley of today? Do you enjoy taking pictures of the town or writing poetry about what you see?
Share it
If you don’t have anything specific yourself do you know someone that might? Maybe your grandparents could tell us a story?
WHY: We’re collecting stories and material to build a living archive of works that tell the story of Dudley. All towns are changing and Dudley is no different. We hear how Dudley used to be a ‘thriving town’ and ‘the place to go’ and we still believe it is and can be. To build plans and dreams for the future you have to look at the past and learn from what has been done before. We think Dudley is worth celebrating and want to share that.
HOW: We’re working with the team at CoLab Dudley who are helping us to produce this project. They are passionate about Dudley and especially the area around St Thomas Quarter and the High Street.
WHERE: We’re based at CoLab on the High Street; a new space that includes exhibition and workshop space.
WHEN: The project is ongoing with no set deadlines. We’ll be sending out prompts that might be timely or coincide with anniversaries or events but we’re happy to hear from people at anytime.
WHAT NEXT: We are hosting 2 x exhibitions in November 2021 to celebrate all of the amazing content people have been sending to us.
The exhibitions:
Launching 4th November the first part of the exhibition will see submitted photographs displayed at CoLab Dudley on the High Street. The pictures and memories were collated during the lockdowns of 2020* /21 and show a vibrant glimpse of how we lived, worked, shopped and played in Dudley.
Growing Up In Dudley 2021 - photos, memories and stories
Launch event: 4th November, 5-7.30pm - all welcome
Exhibition dates: 5th November - 17th November
Venue open: Monday, Wednesday- Friday 11am-3pm
The second part of the exhibition, launching on the 18th November, will include a series of portraits by award-wining photographer Marta Kochanek, a quilt produced over four months by a group lead by textile artist Jan Norton, and further artworks and images.
Growing Up In Dudley 2021 - portraits and artworks
Launch event: 18th November, 5-7.30pm - all welcome
Exhibition dates: 19th November - 3rd December
Venue open: Monday, Wednesday- Friday 11am-3pm
GET INVOLVED: We’d love to hear from you if you’d like to get involved in any way. Just email us: dudleypeoplesarchive@gmail.com
Image above by Ronnie Ackling