First-year BA (Hons) Photography students are exhibiting their images of Church Street buildings in Hartlepool ahead of the proposed Production Village regeneration project, which will see the street transformed into a hub for the growing screen industries in the North East. The exhibition, Reframing the Region, looks to explore the current buildings and their history and will be displayed alongside historic images of the street from 1970 by artist Peter Benson.
The exhibition completes the second year of an ongoing five-year partnership between Hartlepool Council and our BA (Hons) Photography students, which was started in 2025 with MA student and photography degree alumnus Stephen Bailes. The project was initially developed as a continuation of Stephen’s degree-level research. Speaking about the project at the time, Stephen said:
“I got involved in the project after members of Hartlepool Council saw my end of year show work on display at the final year show and were intrigued by it. After talking to them they informed me about the regeneration that was going to be happening on Church Street. The project has developed after having talks with Hartlepool Council and gaining access to the properties on Church Street on a few occasions. On these occasions I was able to photograph inside the abandoned buildings on Church Street and the surrounding area whilst talking to Steve from the council about the past, present and future of the buildings which was very interesting to say the least.”
This year’s first-year students have been working on a further development of the project, which ends in a final exhibition at our Church Street Campus. The exhibition will include images from alumni and photographer Peter Benson, who came to campus to present his work to the students and lead a photo walk on the street to support their projects. Peter’s catalogue of work includes images he took of Church Street in the 1970s. These photographs will be included in the exhibition alongside the students’ outcomes.
Current first-year Photography student Toby Hudson said:
“Throughout the project we have been shooting down Church Street around campus with a goal to preserve its current state within photography. I’ve really enjoyed being able to have entire creative freedom shooting with film and going into more depth with the processes within the darkroom. I’m really proud of the piece I’ve produced and I can’t wait to see what else I can do later on in the course.”
Photography degree lecturer Richard commented:
“Photography allows us to preserve the stories of places as they change. By exhibiting Peter Benson’s photographs from the 1970s alongside new work produced by our students, Reframing the Region creates a dialogue between past and present, celebrating Hartlepool’s rich heritage whilst documenting an exciting period of regeneration and transformation.
“The exhibition reflects the importance of understanding where a place has come from as it moves towards the future. Through a unique collaboration between The Northern School of Art, Hartlepool Borough Council, and Peter Benson, our students have been able to engage directly with the changing landscape of Church Street, using photography to explore themes of memory, identity, preservation, and renewal. Together, these works form an important visual record of a significant moment in the town’s history.”
Head of Strategic Development and Sustainability Paul Taylor said, “Working with the photography students as part of Hartlepool Borough Council’s development of a multi-million-pound screen industries production village has been invaluable, and a real pleasure. Restoring historic, vacant assets in the local area to form TV and film production facilities is a complex and often functional process; however the vision of the students and their passion, artistic eye, flair, enthusiasm and their creative ideas have enabled the project delivery partners an opportunity to see this regeneration programme through a different lens. Providing the students with access to the wide-ranging heritage assets and locations not seen by the public has enabled a historic and artistic record to be captured that would otherwise have been lost. The students have been a delight to work alongside, and it is a partnership that we can’t wait to develop further.”
Councillor Rob Darby, Chair of Hartlepool Borough Council’s Housing, Growth and Communities Committee, said: “Church Street has played a central role in Hartlepool’s story for generations, and it is exciting to see talented young photographers helping to capture and celebrate this important part of our heritage at such a pivotal moment in its history.
“This exhibition offers a fascinating insight into how Church Street has evolved over the decades, while also documenting the transformation that is now taking place as we create a world-class hub for the screen industries. By bringing together historic images and contemporary photography, the project highlights both the character of the area and the opportunities that lie ahead.
“The partnership between The Northern School of Art and the Council is a fantastic example of how education, culture and regeneration can work hand in hand. I would encourage residents and visitors alike to take the opportunity to visit the exhibition and experience this unique visual record of Church Street’s past, present and future.”
Reframing the Region will be available to view from 6/11/26 to 30/11/26 at our Church Street Campus.
If you are interested in studying photography at degree-level we offer a dynamic and well established degree programme, find out more about course details and how to apply here.