Documentary Photography Archive: The Salford Commission

The Salford Commission was the first commission undertaken by the Documentary Photography Archive. It was funded by Salford City Council (£1,500), North West Arts (£1,500), Salford Arts and Media Education Trust (£1,000) and Greater Manchester Council (£500).

It was intended that the Commission would result in a body of work which reflected in some depth "an aspect of contemporary life in Salford". It was left open for photographers to come forward with specific proposals. The Commission was advertised in January 1985, and applications were received from over 90 photographers.

Martin Parr was appointed in March 1985. Following initial discussions between Audrey Linkman, Caroline Warhurst and Martin Parr, the area chosen for investigation was retailing in the Borough of Salford - this subject nicely meeting the DPAs concern to document particularly the routine ordinary everyday aspects of life which are frequently overlooked by the camera.

It was agreed that the use of colour was important in work on retailing where colour plays a vital role in the merchandising of goods.

The Commission required that the photographer keep a workbook/diary. The DPA hoped that this would provide an insight into the photographer's approach to the subject and reveal something of his ideas and thinking on the subject as well as his practical method of working. The DPA also felt that the workbook/diary would enhance the wider historical value of the photographs by providing factual information about their content.

Regular meetings took place during the course of the commission between the DPA and Martin, when contacts and prints of work completed todate were viewed and discussed.

An exhibition of 40 prints selected from the Salford Commission and entitled "The Point of Sale" went on display at Salford Art Gallery in January/February 1986. Under the umbrella title 'Images of Salford' it constituted one of three exhibitions, promoted by the DPA, which reflected different periods in time and portrayed three visions of a changing city.

The DPA retained charge of all original negatives produced in the course of the commission except those selected for exhibition (and those attached to them on the double negatives). Copy negatives were produced from these.