Participatory Photography Collaborations between Solent University and The Stronger Communities Team (Southampton City Council)

A report by The Arts Council England entitled: “The Value of Arts and Culture to People and Society” (Mowlah et al., 2014), concurs that there are numerous pieces of research that evidence the positive impact that the arts can have on physical, mental and social wellbeing and although these are often discussed as separate entities, they recognise the interdependency of these categories. There is no defined template or set way to design and implement a Participatory Photography Project (PPP), a collaborative methodology in which groups of people are given the opportunity to use the medium of photography to express how they view themselves, their environment and issues relating to their experiences outside of a formal counselling setting. Initiatives need to be inclusively structured according to the needs of those who will be participating with consideration also given to available resources and other logistical implications. This project is a proof-of-concept to support the design and implementation of longer-term Participatory Photography collaborations between Solent University and The Stronger Communities Team (Southampton City Council) with the overarching aims and objectives to research and identify the diverse ways that PPPs can help improve the quality of life of participants.