Photographs of babies born in Bradford are being sought for a new exhibition at the National Media Museum, celebrating and documenting baby photography in the region.
The museum is appealing for studio baby photographs to form part of its Bradford Babies exhibition which opens early next year.
“Baby pictures are among our most treasured possessions, and with about 5,500 children born in Bradford each year, there are a lot of photographic memories in the district,” said the museum’s content developer, Grace Haydon.
“Bradford Babies, which launches in February, will look at the city’s rich and diverse community through baby photography from the 19th century to the present day.
“The exhibition is a celebration of babies past and present across the Bradford district, so what better way to do that than feature baby photos from residents? We’re asking the public to lend us their baby photos to play an important part in this exhibition.”
The submitted photographs will feature alongside specially-commissioned works by professional Bradford photographers and photographs from the archives of Belle Vue Studio in Manningham.
“We’re asking for studio photographs of babies because we hope the pictures will tell the story of studio baby photography in Bradford, from 1840s carte de visites through 1950s Polyfotos to modern digital photography,” said Miss Haydon.
The National Media Museum is looking for photos that have been taken by a studio photographer (not snapshots), and the baby in the image should have been born in the Bradford district and be aged 12 months or under.
Owners are asked to write their name, address and phone number clearly on the back of the picture, and should be willing to allow the picture to be used throughout the exhibition.
l Bradford Babies will be on display in Gallery Two at the National Media Museum from February 13 to April 19, 2009.
Photographs can be sent to Grace Haydon, Content Developer, National Media Museum, Bradford BD1 1NQ, or alternatively handed in at reception, marked for the attention of Grace Haydon. They will be available for collection after the exhibition has finished.
e-mail: emma.clayton@telegraphandargus.co.uk
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