Steeltown: an exhibition of decline and hope

A LJMU funded exhibition hopes to spark discussion about the social impacts of deindustrialisation in Britain today.

Researchers behind ‘Steeling Ourselves’ say it is vital that local voices play a central role in shaping the future of areas badly hit by closures of mines, steelyards and factories.

Professor Ruth Ogden, of the School of Psychology, has been researching how memory and identity play a role in the future of communities and is helping present the exhibition in the steel town of Port Talbot.

Steeling Ourselves: Reflections from Port Talbot After the Blast Furnace closure opens in the town on 31^st July and until 8 August and online at www.aftertheend.org/exhibition.

Photography and storytelling

Combining striking photography by Jon Pountney with deeply personal stories from residents, the exhibition captures a community navigating one of the most significant industrial transitions in Welsh history. Through intimate portraits, reflections and shared memories, visitors will gain a unique insight into life in Port Talbot after the closure of the blast furnace.

The exhibition forms part of the After the End research project, which explores how communities experience endings and transitions, examining themes of memory, resilience, identity, power and resistance.

The project is led by Professor Patricia Kingori (The Ethox Centre, University of Oxford) alongside Professor Ogden and Professor Laura Salisbury (University of Exeter) and funded by LJMU, Exeter and the Wellcome Trust.

Professor Ogden said; “We hope the exhibition will spark wider discussions about the social impacts of industrial change and ensure that local voices play a central role in conversations about regeneration and the future of communities experiencing major economic transitions.”

IMAGE: Aberavon beach with the huge steelworks in the background. Jon Pountney.