Shop opens doors on black history
Reporter: Beatriz Ayala
Date published: 27 September 2010
A VACANT shop unit in Oldham town centre is proving to be a vibrant artistic hub as it prepares to welcome a new exhibition.
The SHOP Oldham project in the Albion Street unit — led by Oldham Council’s Arts Development team and funded by the Oldham Partnership, Housing Market Renewal and Arts Council England — hosted the hugely successful Small Cinema Project during August and this month.
Now the Black Britannia exhibition, which runs from September 30 to October 21, will be displayed in the venue to coincide with Black History Month.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell, Formula 1 racing driver Lewis Hamilton and boxer Frank Bruno are among 50 black Britons featured in a series of stunning portraits.
The striking images have been taken by John Ferguson — Fleet Street’s first-ever black photographer.
The images showcase some of the most well known, and also less familiar, black men and women who have risen to the top of their professions, from head teachers to fashion designers, pop stars to lawyers.
The artist will be visiting the Albion Street shop on October 5 at 6.45pm to talk about his love of photography and his life.
