NB: UnfilteredALL WEEK · MON–SAT
A photography project putting cameras in the hands of 200 school children, documenting what it's like to grow up in New Brighton. Work exhibited as a multi-venue photowalk alongside documentary photographers Martin Parr, Tom Wood, Alex Hurst and Ken Grant.
Event
Why people should come
NB: Unfiltered is one of the most ambitious and moving things in this year's festival and it was made entirely by children.
Two hundred school children were handed cameras and asked a simple question: what does it feel like to grow up in New Brighton? The result is an extraordinary body of work honest, funny, tender and completely unfiltered exhibited across multiple venues as a photowalk through the town itself. Alongside the children's work, documentary photography legends Martin Parr, Tom Wood, Alex Hurst and Ken Grant bring their own lens to New Brighton, making this a rare chance to see world-class photography and raw local voices side by side, in the very place they're about.
- 200 school children's photographs exhibited across New Brighton's venues
- Work shown alongside acclaimed documentary photographers Martin Parr, Tom Wood, Alex Hurst and Ken Grant
- A self-guided photowalk taking you through the town and its stories
- Free entry — open to everyone, no booking required
- A once-in-a-festival experience rooted entirely in this community
What to expect
NB: Unfiltered isn't a single exhibition, it's a journey through New Brighton itself. Here's how it works..
Pick up your map
Grab a photowalk map from any participating venue or the festival hub. It shows all the exhibition spots and suggests a route through town.
Explore the exhibitions
Each venue hosts a different body of work — from the children's photographs to prints by Martin Parr, Tom Wood, Alex Hurst and Ken Grant.
Take your time
There's no set order and no time limit. Drop in for one venue or do the full walk — either way, entry is completely free.
Stay for the town
New Brighton is the backdrop to everything in this exhibition. Take your own photos, grab a coffee and let the place speak for itself.
Photos
Love this event, help keep the festival thriving
NB: Unfiltered is free for everyone and that's exactly how we want it to stay. Projects like this take real resources to bring to life.
Why your support matters
- Puts cameras and creative skills in the hands of young people
- Covers printing, framing and exhibition costs across multiple venues
- Keeps the photowalk free and accessible to the whole community
- Funds future projects giving children a creative voicen
Plan your visit
This is where people look for the practical details that help them commit. Keep it crisp and useful.
Getting there
New Brighton is easy to reach by train, the station is right in the heart of town, a short walk from the seafront and most exhibition venues. By bus, the New Brighton bus station is nearby. Free parking is available at Fort Perch Rock car park on Marine Promenade, and along Kings Parade. Pick up a photowalk map on arrival to find all the exhibition locations..
Accessibility
The photowalk route is designed to be manageable on foot, though you're welcome to do it in stages or visit individual venues independently. All participating venues have step-free or level access where possible. Full accessibility details for each venue are listed on the photowalk map. If you have specific access needs, contact us in advance and we'll help plan your visit.
Need help?
Photowalk maps are available at all participating venues and the festival hub. No booking is required, just turn up and explore at your own pace. For more information about the project, the photographers or the schools involved, visit the festival website or email us at lauriesmith@hfcmat.com
Be part of it
Free to visit, across multiple venues, at your own pace. Come and see what 200 young photographers — and four of the world's best documentary photographers — found when they turned their cameras on this town.
6–11 July · New Brighton, Wirral
Organised by C Change Creativity Collaborative in partnership with Love New Brighton & the New Brighton Partnership
Contact: lauriesmith@hfcmat.com
Supporting New Brighton's bid to become UK Town of Culture
