A photography scholarship worth £4,000 has been launched by the University of Bolton, with support from a local Rotary Club.
The scholarship is for a recent postgraduate photography student, who lives in the North West, to produce a series of photographs based on images in the Humphrey Spender Worktown archive at Bolton Museum and Art Gallery. The theme for the 2009 – 10 scholarship is 'holidays'.
The final set of photographs will be displayed in an exhibition at Bolton Museum and Art Gallery in 2010 and the photographer will also deliver a paper at the third Photography and Leisure Conference to be held early in 2010.
Ian Beesley, Programme Leader for the MA in Photography at the University, said: 'This is a wonderful opportunity for a documentary photographer to develop their work and we are delighted to have received funding to support this project. This new scholarship will play a key role in continuing research and development on the Worktown archive, which is an important part of the history of photography and a major asset to the town of Bolton.'
The Spender archive of photographs, taken in Bolton for the Mass Observation's Worktown project, is regarded internationally as one of the most important archives in the development of British documentary photography. The scholarship has been launched as part of a joint initiative between the University of Bolton and Bolton Council to develop a research centre based around the Spender archive.
Funding for the scholarship has come from a development fund set up by the University in 2008. The fund was created to provide student scholarships, and support research and development using £100,000 from the Marriott Trust, donated by Bolton Le Moors Rotary Club.
Mark Allanson, the University's Director of External Affairs, said: 'This is the latest of a number of projects generously funded by the Marriott. The University's Alumni and Development Office work closely with academic staff and the Marriott Trust to ensure every project application meets the aims of the Trust.
'We are particularly grateful to the Trustees of the fund and to Bolton le Moors Rotary Club for their support. Not only does it support an internationally renowned field of study at the University, but it provides a wonderful opportunity for one of our photography graduates to develop their knowledge and experience.'
Mr Mervyn Porter, Chair of Trustees for the Marriott Trust added: 'We have developed an excellent relationship with the University and are proud that the legacy John Marriott left will be of benefit to Bolton and to a student at the University. We look forward to supporting further important work.'
For more information on the Humphrey Spender John Marriott Scholarship for Social Documentary Photography, contact Ian Beesley at the University of Bolton on 01204 903362 or i.beesley@bolton.ac.uk|. Closing date for applications is 1 September 2009.
Image: Blackpool amusement park - the big dipper(Photograph by Humphrey Spender. Copyright Bolton Council from the Bolton Museum & Archive collection.)