Place was an exhibition that used the processes of mapping and narrating to tell the story of Barrow’s streets – the histories, memories and collective experiences of individuals who have lived and worked in in the town were presented through the lens of art.

By turning the spotlight onto the lives of working people beyond the shipyard, the exhibition engaged with themes such as leisure, shopping culture and the everyday experiences of those employed in sectors such as banks, shops and hair salons. It highlighted stories of ‘women’s work’, often less present in the historical record, and the vital contributions women have made to Barrow’s economy and culture.

The starting point for this exhibition was the ‘Re:discover Barrow – Lost Shops’ cultural programme (2019-2024), part of a wider cultural programme developed in response to Barrow’s High Street Heritage Action Zone. 

Duke Street and Cornwallis Street in Barrow-in-Furness, make up one of 60 High Street Heritage Action Zones designated by Historic England in the UK. In 2019, what is now Westmorland and Furness Council secured £1.1m government funding through Historic England for the ‘Re:discover Barrow’ project, which aimed to revitalise the heritage, retail and cultural offer of the town.

As part of this, a cultural programme – Re:discover Barrow – led by Art Gene, working alongside fellow arts organisations Full of Noises, Signal Film & Media and Theatre Factory, invited the public into conversation, encouraging them to share memories associated with Duke Street and Cornwallis Street.  

Memory Stalls were set up at Barrow Library, The Forum and Barrow Market, involving all partners. The memories and artefacts shared during the Memory Stalls became a rich repository of local stories and functioned as research material for the cultural consortia and individual artists. Over four years, Re:discover Barrow – Lost Shops produced artistic responses to those stories, with select works being featured in this exhibition.

Drawing inspiration directly from people’s stories, the works produced, many of which featured in this exhibition, used film, sound, visual arts and performance to capture the histories and memories of Duke Street and Cornwallis Street. Functioning as a microcosm of the wider town, the works formed a collective narrative that have meaning for Barrow’s local community now, and which will be preserved in Barrow’s archive for the future.

The exhibition invited us to reflect on whose stories are acknowledged and considered worthy of being told? Which buildings, moments or people shape our sense of place? Through presenting various approaches to mapping and narrating the story of a place, the exhibition prompted reflection and dialogue around our own sense of place and how we choose to represent our surroundings and experiences. What stories would we tell? Which buildings would take centre stage in our own story telling?

Beyond Barrow, the narratives and experiences resonated with the landscapes of other industrial northern towns and high streets and their changing purpose over time. Central to the exhibition was the recognition that the true value of a place lies in its people and their stories. Validating these stories is an essential element in placemaking. To envision the future, we might say, we must first look back.