A stunning photograph of a Morecambe Bay sunset captured by a young local photographer will be featured in a special exhibition at the British Academy in London. The image, titled "A Sunset over Heysham," is among several photographs taken by youth participants that will be displayed as part of a groundbreaking Lancaster University research project.
The two photography exhibitions are part of an innovative research initiative called "SeaSights: Deprived Seaside Towns and the Blue Economy," which aims to amplify young people's voices and increase their visibility in coastal and marine decision-making processes. The project investigates how oceans, coastal communities, and young people's perspectives are frequently overlooked in policy decisions that affect their lives.
Thirty young people between the ages of 13 and 19 from Morecambe, Lancaster, Blackpool, and Barrow-in-Furness participated in the study. Rather than conducting traditional interviews, researchers employed an innovative methodology called Photovoice, a recognized community-based research approach that empowered participants to document their own experiences and engagement with their coastal environment.
Participants were given cameras and a specific assignment: to capture elements of the seaside that held personal significance for them. Among the notable images selected for the London exhibition is "Child on seat: Enjoying the view and sunset from Jenny Brown's Point, Silverdale," which showcases another young person's perspective on their coastal surroundings.
Research partners facilitated participant recruitment and Photovoice projects throughout the region. These partners included More Music in Morecambe, The Bay: A Blueprint for Recovery in Morecambe, Morecambe Bay Academy, and Ripley St Thomas Church of England Academy in Lancaster. After the photography phase, research teams met with the young participants in group settings to discuss their images, exploring what the photographs represented, their significance, and what actions should be taken to preserve or improve these coastal locations.
The group discussions revealed that all participants deeply valued their seaside environment, associating it with natural beauty, recreational opportunities, and meaningful contact with nature. Every single participant stated they could not imagine living away from the coast, demonstrating their strong connection to these areas.
However, the young people also expressed frustration about being excluded from decision-making processes that directly impact their communities. They pointed to inadequate facilities and limited entertainment options available to them along the coast and in towns, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas, as evidence of this disconnect. The participants called for regular, sustained dialogue between local authorities and young people to ensure their perspectives are genuinely considered in planning decisions.
Dr. Celine Germond-Duret from Lancaster University's new School of Global Affairs leads this British Academy and Leverhulme Trust-funded project. She emphasized the crucial role that creative tools can play in engaging young people in decision-making processes that affect their communities.
"This is very much about the importance of arts in connecting young people to the blue space," Dr. Germond-Duret explained. "Any form of arts, photography, painting, sketching are important to invite young people to explore connections with the blue space, and what matters to them. Arts could serve as a bridge between young people and other stakeholders, including decision makers."
The photography exhibition will be displayed at the British Academy when the institution opens its Grade 1 Listed building as part of London's Open House historical building festival on Sunday, September 21. The work will also be featured in October during a mini festival celebrating "Living with Nature," providing additional opportunities for public engagement with these young voices from England's northwest coast.
