Recently, a group of documentary photographers joined forces to explore what it’s like to be 16 years old in Britain today. The resulting exhibition, titled simply Sixteen, opens in mid-February at the New Adelphi Building, the home of the School of Arts and Media at Salford University with associated exhibitions at HOME, Manchester Central Library, and 42nd Street – a mental health charity in Ancoats. Working with photography, film, social media, audio recordings and writing, the exhibition brings together the faces and voices of more than 100 young people from diverse communities across the UK. To create visual vox pops, the photographers opened up conversations with the teens about what sustains and inspires them. The project explores how social, ethnic, and economic factors might influence people’s during this transitional time in their lives.

Fri 15 Feb – Sun 14 Apr, New Adelphi Exhibition Gallery & Atrium, University of Salford, University Road, Salford, M5 4BR, Opening times vary, FREE, www.salford.ac.uk/newadelphi

Sat 16 Feb – Sun 17 Mar, HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Place, Manchester, M15 4FN, Opening times vary, FREE, homemcr.org/exhibition/sixteen/

Sat 16 Feb – Mon 15 Apr, Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, Manchester, M2 5PD, Opening times vary, FREE, www.librarylive.co.uk/event/sixteen

Sat 16 Feb – Fri 8 Mar, 42nd Street & Horsfall Space, 87-91 Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, M4 5AG, Opening times vary, FREE, 42ndstreet.org.uk/horsfall

Sat 16 Feb - Mon 15 Apr
Words:
A. James Simpkin
Published on:
Tue 2 Apr 2019