Student Photography Project Unearths Local History
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tudents with learning difficulties are exhibiting the results of a three month photography project which involved a fascinating look at the history of Northbrook’s Broadwater Campus. The students were asked to explore the Broadwater campus through recreating and photographing scenes from the site’s history.
The images on display at Worthing Library are cleverly styled to look like stills from old films and they evoke real and imaginary scenes at the campus from each decade since the early 19th century.
Local artist and photographer Annis Joslin led the students through the project. She explains, “We started by looking at the work of photographer Cindy Sherman - in particular her ‘untitled film stills series’. The students worked together to create a series of their own imaginary ‘film stills’. Through a series of fun group exercises, the students explored the site of Northbrook’s Broadwater campus to find the locations. They have created a number of photographic works that focus on image composition and collage”.
The Broadwater campus was originally a boys’ secondary school in the 1920s, with a grand entrance – now obscured by trees – facing Broadwater Road. Buildings were gradually added throughout the 20th century. Local people have said that the building was originally used as an army hospital during the first world war, which gave the students the opportunity to create some interesting images. By the 1960s, it was being used as Worthing College of Technology (which eventually merged with West Sussex College of Art and Design in the 1980s to form what is now Northbrook College).
The students involved in the project are young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. They are following Northbrook’s specialist pre-vocational programmes which include a variety of work skills and community activities.
After the private view, Lecturer, Jo Telling said, "We were extremely pleased to be joined in celebration of the learner’s achievements by parents, tutors, fellow students, Hugh Mooney (The Azurian Archive) and Sue Dare our college Principal. Annis Joslin, the photographer/filmmaker who led the project also joined in the celebration. The afternoon was a great success and we also wish to thank to Jane Cropper of Worthing Library for her support in setting up the exhibition."
Pictured above: Kaneo Hennessey-Knott, Adele Copper, Georgina Greenfield and Rikki Payne.
Below: Original architects drawing of the Boys Secondary School dated 1928