Bradford Family Archive: Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Do you live in Bradford, and have a family story to tell? Share your story and become part of Bradford Family Archive

New Focus our young people’s collective invite you to take part in Bradford Family Archive: Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder. This exciting, new mass participation project asks the people of Bradford to share their family photographs and heirloom objects, to become part of the Bradford Family Archive.

Please note: the deadline for submissions has passed, and a short film was created to highlight some of the stories shared. Click here to watch the film.

Share your story through Facebook and Instagram, and help New Focus create the online archive showcasing objects, stories and photographs, celebrating what makes Bradford, Bradford.

How to get involved

Find an old photograph or heirloom object and get creative!

Take a photograph of your family photo or object and write your short family story. Here are some of the questions you might want to consider when writing your story, keep it brief, just 50 words:

Who is in the photograph or who does the object belong to?

Tell us a memory you have of this photograph or object

Why is this photograph or object special to you?

Sharing your story

Now you have your family story and photographs, you can share it with us in one of the following ways:

Join our Facebook group Bradford Family Archive where you can share your photos and stories with all our members! Remember keep your story to just 50 words.

Post your story on Instagram and tag @ImpNewFocus and add the hashtag #BradfordFamilyArchive. Remember keep your story to just 50 words.

Come along to Photographs and Laughs, an informal group video chat via zoom, taking place on Thursdays throughout the project.

Or email your photograph and story to us at newfocus@impressions-gallery.com

The deadline for submissions is the 30 June 2020

This project is funded by Bradford Council, as part of the Response Programme, and Arts Council England.

What’s next?

Join us online on the 30 July for the premiere of our short film Bradford Family Archive: Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder.

New Focus will be working with the team at Impressions to select stories and create a short film that celebrates Bradford and the brilliant people that live here.

For regular updates, follow New Focus on social media:

Instagram: @ImpNewFocus
Twitter: @ImpNewFocus
Facebook: Newfocus/Impressions

This project is inspired by New Focus most recent project Forget-me-not.

New Focus

About New Focus

New Focus is Impressions Gallery’s award-winning collective for young people who live, work or study in Bradford. New Focus gives 16 to 25-year olds the opportunity to get involved, make decisions on specific projects, and develop key skills for their future careers. Formed in 2012, New Focus works closely with Impressions and Bradford’s diverse communities to develop creative projects that inspire and engage other young people.