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Coastal Youth Rise: Unsung Voices Emerge
3 Jun
Summary
- Photographer documents overlooked youth in England's coastal towns.
- Exhibition highlights creativity and resilience of young islanders.
- Project reveals challenges faced by youth on England's periphery.
Documentary photographer Polly Braden's year-long project, "Against the Tide," captures the lives of young people in coastal communities across England and Wales. This initiative, born from a report on coastal health and a focus on youth facing austerity, aims to spotlight overlooked 16- to 25-year-olds.
The project culminates in a touring exhibition, opening at Bristol's Arnolfini gallery in June 2026 and moving to Colchester's Firstsite gallery in October 2026. It features poignant photographs of individuals like Libby from Whitehaven and Cohen, an aspiring entrepreneur from Grimsby.
Braden's work challenges the perception of young people as lazy or disengaged, instead celebrating their creativity, resilience, and community care. The exhibition also includes work by young people from coastal towns, shared through postcards that highlight their common experiences.
"Against the Tide" underscores the vital need for policymakers to engage with coastal youth, whose voices and aspirations are often unheard. Braden emphasizes sustained contact and collaboration, aiming to demonstrate that with opportunity, these young individuals can thrive.
