Working with Artists Jack Brown and Tina Dempsey, in Partnership with the Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool | March - October 2025

As part of our Sankey: Lives Through the Lens programme, we are partnering with The Grundy Art Gallery and have recruited two groups of emerging Artists to work towards a group exhibition this Autumn 2025. 

About the Project:

The Sankeys were a father and sons trio of photographers who documented life in Barrow, Cumbria and across the North West for over 70 years. Find out more about them and explore the Sankey Photography Archive here.

Discovered amongst the collection, as well as the many fantastic images of Barrow, were stunning images of Blackpool capturing the thriving seaside town at its peak of popularity during the early 20th century. Both Barrow and Blackpool evolved throughout this century seeing changes to people, industry, town centres and dynamism. This project aims to connect the two towns, inspired by original Sankey photography, and offer participants an opportunity to express the current identity of place through the work they create. 

Working with one group in Barrow and one group in Blackpool, artists Jack Brown and Tina Dempsey are leading a series of workshops for our developing artists to be mentored and explore the archive as inspiration for their practice. The workshops will culminate in an exhibition of their work at the award-winning Grundy Art Gallery in Blackpool.