In Elliott Flanagan’s ongoing project, ‘You can never really return home: A contemporary testament of Burnley by its people’, he challenges the accepted narrative of his hometown, instead, thinking about Burnley as a place of art and inspiration where culture and stories are rich and valuable.
Collaborating with a women’s group in the Stoops Estate area and inspired by his own growing up here the project marks Burnley’s unique place in the world, reflecting on life there today and exploring the town’s non-conformist spirit, attitude, humour and wit, its hope in the face of inequality via its people and their stories of teenage indiscretions, Variety Video in soft focus, tales of odyssey on the Whizzard bus and a belief in Burnley looking out towards the world.
This is a clear strike out against the usual cliched, regressive and negative images of the town and Flanagan stands in opposition to misrepresentation, class discrimination and stereotypes that its communities have endured over the years.
In collaboration with West End Community Centre and Burnley Civic Trust Heritage Image Collection.
