Bolton Museum is thrilled to announce an upcoming exhibition opening in March, ‘Documenting Your Community’, as part of the Bolton Town of Culture celebrations.
In collaboration with the British Culture Archive and renowned, local photographer, Don Tonge, this project invites amateur and professional photographers alike to capture the essence of Bolton through their lenses.
The ‘Documenting Your Community’ project is an open call for photographers to submit images that reflect the vibrant life, people and places of Bolton.
The exhibition will showcase selected photographs alongside Don Tonge’s iconic images from the 1970s, providing a historical and contemporary dialogue of Bolton's cultural landscape.
Submissions are now open and will close on 31 January 2025.
Photographers are allowed to submit one image, which must be taken in Bolton, capturing its community life.
Photos must depict people, places or events in Bolton and can be taken on mobile phones.
If you’d like to participate in this project, please send a JPEG (no more than 7MB) of your photograph to ingrid@britishculturearchive.co.uk along with the following accompanying information:
1. Describe your photo. This could be the story behind the image, who the people are, where it was taken in Bolton, why you took it - anything you think is interesting or relevant.
2. How you would like to be credited if your photo is selected for the exhibition.
3. The date the photo was taken.
Don Tonge, local photographer and exhibition lead, shares his excitement:
“I am so pleased to be part of this project about my hometown, Bolton.
“This photo competition is a perfect collaboration between Bolton Library & Museum and the British Culture Archive.
“I have documented Bolton and surrounding areas over many decades, starting in the late 1960s up to the present day!
“It's an honour to be part of the exhibition showcasing images of our Bolton with other photographers.”
Paul Wright, founder of British Culture Archive added:
"Documenting Your Community invites you to take photos of your community, capturing life in contemporary Britain.
“You don’t need to be a professional photographer—we’d love to see photos that capture your local shopkeeper or people in the park or pub, a celebration of everyday life in Bolton!
“We are excited to work with Bolton Museum and Boltonian photographer, Don Tonge on this special exhibition celebrating the town’s heritage and culture.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for photographers and upcoming photographers to have their work exhibited at the Bolton Museum as part of Bolton Town of Culture 2025, as well as showcased through the BCA platform.”
Bolton Council’s Executive Member for Culture, Cllr Nadeem Ayub, said: "This exhibition will be a testament to Bolton’s dynamic cultural scene.
“By inviting residents to contribute, we're not just preserving our history; we're actively creating it.
“This project aligns perfectly with our Town of Culture ambitions, showcasing Bolton's story through the eyes of its citizens."
Exhibition details:
- Opening date: Saturday 15 March 2025
- Venue: Bolton Museum
Bolton Museum invites residents and visitors to join them in this unique, cultural exploration, where history meets modernity, with every snapshot telling a story of Bolton.
This project and exhibition will form part of Bolton Town of Culture 2025. British Culture Archive was awarded a Town of Culture small grant and is working with local photographer, Don Tonge to bring this to life.
For more information about the exhibition or the submission process, please contact ingrid@britishculturearchive.co.uk