Stoke-on-Trent residents given starring role in new gallery

A unique new gallery has opened its doors at intu Potteries, showcasing an array of photography, artwork and poetry that was created over the course of lockdown by the region’s residents.

The Lockdown Gallery showcases more than 10 lockdown-themed photographs, 15 pieces of creative artwork and five pandemic-inspired poems created by locals throughout the region over the last five months. Aiming to spread positivity and to showcase the lives of the local community, the gallery is open to the public throughout the summer.

Located on Level 1 next to Supercuts, Lockdown Gallery features a selection of snapshots that reflect everything from kindness and bravery, to hope, humour and scenes of the county under lockdown, as well as creative artwork and inspiring poetry. It also celebrates local key workers who have kept the region going throughout the crisis.

Visitors can explore the Lockdown Gallery for free at the centre every day from 9am – 6pm (10.30am – 4.30pm on Sundays).

Lockdown Gallery is the result of a regional callout last month, which saw intu Potteries ask local residents to submit their photographs, artwork and poems that they wrote during lockdown.

Amy Dibble, marketing manager at intu Potteries, commented: “We had an incredible response to our callout. From family walks and socially distanced reunions, to the eerily empty streets of Stoke-on-Trent and images of the beautiful countryside, the entries were fantastic.

“We’ve chosen 40 entries to form the gallery and includes a selection of beautiful photos, creative artwork and inspiring poems from locals which showcase how the region came together over the past five challenging months and we look forward to welcoming visitors into the Lockdown Gallery from today.”

intu Potteries has implemented a number of additional safety measures to make sure the centre is a safe place to visit, including; a clearly marked one-way system, visitor numbers being managed and capacity being monitored, as well as hand sanitization stands located at key points throughout the centre. In line with the latest Government guidelines, visitors are also asked to wear face coverings when they visit the centre, with some exceptions including children under 11 and those with certain disabilities.

For more information on Lockdown Gallery, please visit https://intu.co.uk/potteries/events/lockdown-art-gallery. For more information on intu Potteries and the safety measures in-place at the centre, head to https://intu.co.uk/potteries/news/keeping-you-safe.