We will commission 12 new photographic portraits of people who work in Loughborough Junction in their place of work as part of our successful Made in Loughborough Junction outdoor photographic exhibition (http://www.loughboroughjunction.org/made-in-loughborough-junction-2). The portraits will tell a story and alongside the portraits we will show the tools of their trade. The portraits will be mounted on metre square boards in our town centre and on one of the large advertising bill boards in the area. To the casual visitor Loughborough Junction appears to be a forgotten place between Brixton and Camberwell but it is full of hidden creativity and enterprise with many entrepreneurs, artists, artisans and makers beavering away behind the scenes up secret alleyways and in tucked away yards. It is this vitality and energy that we wish to celebrate and capture .
The photographs to be taken by local young photographers supervised by a local professional photographer.

What we'll deliver:

• Mount 12 new photoographic portraits in Loughborough Junction town centre
• Employ local young photographers and a local professional photographer in supervisory role
• Mount portraits on local advertising billboard
• Produce printed book of total of 34 portraits (22 previous + 12 new)
• Hold celebratory event and exhibition

Why it's a great idea:

Loughborough Junction's town centre on Coldharbour Lane needs a facelift and celebrating our local entreprenurial and creative businesses will raise its profile and make it a more attractive place to live in, shop and visit. This will benefit residents and visitors to Loughborough Junction who will see that here is a place with its own unique identity that is worth preserving and developing.
The inspiration for the project comes from LJAG's partnership working. We work with many local training organisations such as the Green Man Skills Zone, One Planet Ventures, Tree Shepherd and the Meanwhile tOrganisation that is working with Network Rail to fill empty railway arches with start-up businesses.
LJAG is working with Lambeth council on a masterplan that will determine the future of the area's development sites.
LJAG has also helped set up of a business forum for Loughborough Junction.
LJAG facilitates the LJ Neighbourhood Planning Forum which is working on the public realm.

Steps to get it done:

• Hire project space
• Employ on self-employed contact local professional photographer and photographic equipment
• Employ on self-employed contract local young photographers
• Prepare self-employed contracts
• Brief photographers on health and safety
• Write risk assessment
• Decide which businesses to feature and set up photographic shoot
• Hire graphic designer to lay out the boards
• Get quotations from printers
• Mount boards in town centre
• Hire billboard space (we have obtained this for free in the past)
• Organise exhbition and celebratory event

Loughborough Junction has the potential for growth that could increase the vitality and diversity of its town centre.
There is a recent planning permission for a mixed use scheme of 125 new homes, light industrial and office space which will bring new people and new opportunities to the area. There is also potential to increase employment.
Network Rail is the largest provider of employment space with long runs of railway arches bisecting the neighbourhood. Network Rail claims a vacancy rate of 30 per cent but a recent survey of Loughborough Junction businesses carried out by a volunteer for the business association indicated a vacancy rate of nearer 40 per cent.
Network is beginning to understand that there is under-utilised capacity in Loughborough Junction. It is currently working with the Meanwhile Space CIC to bring some of these arches back into use for start-up businesses and it has plans to upgrade some of its other arches in the area.