Culture And Memory

A World of Contrasts: The Serena Wadham Photographic Archive Project

We will transform Serena Wadham's extraordinary photographic archive from a hidden collection into a living public resource, actively engaging communities in discovering and interpreting the social history it contains. Serena Wadham (1930–2006) was a pioneering photojournalist who documented Britain's defining social movements — feminist activism, peace protests, working-class life, famous artists and ordinary people. Despite seven portraits held at the National Portrait Gallery, her work remains virtually unknown. We will support Penzance's Morrab Library to digitise 3,000+ photographs and make them freely accessible online. Working with communities across Cornwall and London, we'll create exhibitions, workshops, events, a book and short film, engaging 1,000+ people including young people, older people and women. This project rescues heritage at risk from physical deterioration and obscurity, bringing Serena's photographs into dialogue with contemporary communities who will find their own lives reflected in her work.