IF you are a young person pursuing a career in STEM, Shipley-based photographer Shy Burhan would like to take your portrait for a new exhibition.
Shy has been commissioned to present a portrait series of young STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) ambassadors in the Bradford district.
Shy has had national success, particularly with her most recent touring exhibition ACE Women in Uniform - featuring 84 portraits of British women of colour working in under-represented industries - which was a success at Cartwright Hall Art Gallery earlier this year.
Now she has been commissioned by Bradford community arts organisation The Leap, alongside Sir Lewis Hamilton’s Mission 44 charity, to capture portraits of young STEM ambassadors, from any background, male and female, for a new exhibition.
So far Shy’s portraits include Stephanie Alexander - who works as a Senior Safety Calibration Engineer in the automative industry and also voluntarily marshals F1 races globally - Bradford electrician Madison May, who runs her own business, Current Electrical, in Greengates, and Laila who works on the Mercedes High Performance training programme as a Graduate Simulation Engineer.
Madison, 21, has been an electrician for four years after training at Leeds College Printworks where there was only one other woman on her course.
After work experience at an accountants firm, she decided to do an electricians course “because it’s just something I thought would be different and interesting.
“Being an electrician opens a lot of doors, and women should have the opportunity to experience it and prove that gender doesn’t define skill or success,” Madison told the T&A in a recent interview.
“I love the fact that it’s hands-on, and I’m constantly busy all the time. My customers say: ‘I’m so happy for you, I hope you go really far.’ They’re all rooting for me.”
Says Shy: “I am delighted to be working alongside The Leap and Sir Lewis Hamilton’s charity to promote diversity in the STEM industry.
“In particular, working with people from all backgrounds and shooting all across the district, celebrating diversity amongst the diverse landscapes that Bradford has to offer. We are piloting this exhibition and hope to expand it and take it on tour in the future.
“We are hosting a pop-up, invite only exhibition at the Connaught Rooms in Manningham on October 31 to start off with, and all participants and stakeholders will be invited.”
The Leap is the Arts Council’s Creative People and Places programme for Bradford district. Its aim is to get more people engaged in arts and culture, by having local people helping to shape and lead what’s on offer.
The programme is aimed at increasing leadership and participation in arts and culture across the district, by identifying and supporting individuals and groups who are motivated to lead on new cultural and creative activity - such as Shy.
Creative People and Places is led by Born in Bradford and a consortium made up of Bradford Eid Festival, Mind the Gap, Keighley Association for Women and Children’s Centre, OutLoud and Bradford Moor PASS.
The programme’s Fuelling Futures project has commissioned local artists to create street art, including a mural due to be launched at the same time as Shy’s portrait exhibition opens.
The team is currently working with Bradford College to encourage student participation in STEM led careers.
Mission 44 was founded by Sir Lewis Hamilton “to build a fairer, more inclusive future in which every young person can thrive”.
The foundation supports organisations working to transform the lives of young people from under-served communities through grants, research and advocacy.
The charity is focused on building a more inclusive education system, opening doors to careers within STEM, motorsport and the creative industries, and empowering young people to become an influential force for change.
Mission 44 continues the work and commitment of the Ignite Partnership, founded by world champion racing driver Sir Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team to increase diversity and inclusion in motorsport.
Shy Burhan will be shooting the Fuelling Futures portrait project until October 27. She is appealing to any young person in STEM who would like their portrait to be featured to get in touch by emailing her at info@shybphotography.co.uk
Each participant will receive a gift portrait and they will be invited to the exhibition launch.
* For more information about The Leap go to the-leap.org.uk/programmes-1/fuelling-futures-ff-events
* For more about Shy Burhan’s work go to shybphotography.com
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