Photographs taken by students to capture life in a North Staffordshire town during a year-long project are now on display in an outdoor exhibition.
Students on the Level 3 BTEC Photography & Digital Media course at NSCG (Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group) teamed up with Newcastle-under-Lyme BID for the ‘Our People, Our Places, Our Castle’ project.
During the past academic year, the students worked to real-world briefs to celebrate the people, places and stories that make Newcastle special, including residents, business owners, heritage and day-to-day life in the town. The images are now on display on four public art columns in the Ironmarket until September.
Charlotte Pearce, Manager at Newcastle-under-Lyme BID, said: “This is our most ambitious collaboration with NSCG students to date and we’re proud to see the results out in the town for everyone to enjoy. It’s a celebration of Newcastle through the eyes of its future creatives.”
The students also partnered with local traders to produce professional imagery for commercial use, helping to build their portfolios and gain first-hand experience in working with clients.
Holly Davies, Director of Curriculum at NSCG, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to see the incredible talent of our Level 3 BTEC Photography & Digital Media students showcased in the heart of Newcastle-under-Lyme.
“Their powerful images, captured in response to a live brief from Newcastle BID, truly bring the unique character of our town into focus and beautifully document what makes ‘Castle’ so special.
“This project has been an invaluable experience for our learners, not only developing essential professional skills and building their portfolios but also deepening their connection to Newcastle-under-Lyme. We are incredibly grateful to Newcastle BID for providing such a fantastic opportunity, and we encourage everyone to visit the installation and enjoy the work.”
The project also features a specially commissioned poem by Stoke-on-Trent poet laureate Nick Degg, entitled Down Castle.
