Stories Of Our Street
- cindysasha
- May 12
- 2 min read
This summer, I had worked with The Green Arts Centre in Mitcham on their project called Stories of Our Street, a community arts project celebrating local life through photography. Supported by funding from Arts Council England, the project brought together young residents to tell the story of Mitcham in fresh and engaging ways.
I produced a photography workshop with young children from Mitcham, encouraging them to highlight what they love about their neighbourhood.
We began with a simple question: What does your street mean to you?
Armed with camera phones, the children set out to capture the places, people and details that tell the story of their neighbourhood. Some photographed familiar shopfronts and bustling market stalls, others found beauty in the quiet corners, a garden gate covered in ivy, the worn steps of a local park, the friendly dog of a local resident.
The workshop was not just about learning photography skills. It was about empowering these young participants to become storytellers, showing them that their perspective matters and that the streets they walk every day are rich with meaning. We talked about framing, light and colour but also about memory, emotion and the importance of documenting our own communities.
The results were truly inspiring. Each young photographer offered a unique glimpse into Mitcham, revealing both its vibrancy and its quieter moments.
These images went on to form part of an exhibition at Canons House, a beautiful historic venue in the heart of the Mitcham community. Seeing the children’s work displayed in such a grand setting was magical, a proud moment for them, their families and everyone involved. Visitors to the exhibition were moved by the authenticity, with many commenting on the high quality of the work and the strength of the images captured.
Stories of Our Street reminded me why community projects like this matter so deeply. They not only document our shared spaces, but also build confidence, spark curiosity and connect us to each other in meaningful ways.
