The British Open Championships will receive enhanced coverage this year through an expanding array of social media platforms offering unique perspectives, opinions, and predictions about the prestigious brass band competition. Among these emerging voices is 'Art of Banding,' an innovative new project dedicated to documenting the brass band movement through compelling words and imagery while emphasizing community building and raising awareness of banding culture to a broader global audience.
The creative duo behind Art of Banding consists of Liz Ely and Katy Bridgestock, two friends from Scotland who share a passion for creative communities, niche hobbies, and documentary photography. Katy brings extensive experience from various photography projects and earned recognition through her nomination for the 2025 Scottish Landscape Awards. Meanwhile, Liz contributes her skills as both a writer and comedian, drawing from her childhood experiences growing up and performing in brass bands during her youth.
Together, the pair leverages their complementary talents to share captivating stories from the banding world in an engaging and creative manner. Their commitment to the project has already taken them to several major events earlier this year, including the Spring Festival in Blackpool and the Whit Marches. This weekend, they will be present at the Open Championships in Birmingham to continue their documentation efforts.
Discussing her photographic approach with 4BR, Katy explained her artistic philosophy: "My photography is very much centered on real people in the settings they feel most at home. I love to represent people doing the things they enjoy and are passionate about. 'Art of Banding' is the perfect project for me, because not only do I get to meet loads of interesting people engaged in a hobby that is both their passion and community, I'm also learning so much about brass band culture, a world I knew very little about."
Liz shares a similar perspective on their collaborative work, bringing her own personal connection to the brass band world. "My dad is a bander, and my grandad was an enthusiast, but I never really understood the appeal when I was growing up," she revealed. "Now that I am older I've become interested in the ways that art brings people together. I think the brass banding movement has something special in this regard, and it deserves more attention. This project has been a lot of fun so far, as well as encouraging me to connect with my own roots."
Those interested in following the Art of Banding project and viewing their work can find their content online through multiple platforms. Their Instagram account can be accessed at @artofbanding, while their more detailed written content and photography are available at www.artofbanding.substack.com, where they continue to build their archive of brass band community stories and imagery.
