Exhibition shows why we love Peterborough in #1000Moments

The exhibition, launching on February 13, will be installed on the blank wall along the former upper floor of BHS, by Primark.

Peterborough Presents and We Love Peterborough joined forces with Jumped Up Theatre to deliver the project, which combined a travelling gameshow, a poetry film and now a photography campaign all aimed at getting local people talking positively about the city.

#1000Moments started with the We Love Peterborough gameshow, which travelled to a series of community events and spaces including Bretton Festival, Itter Park, Millfield Festival and Ferry Meadows in summer 2019. The game show was a fun and interactive test of residents’ knowledge of Peterborough, in particular the city’s cultural offer. After playing the game, players were photographed and asked to share a favourite memory from living in Peterborough.

All of the collected memories can be found on the We Love Peterborough website and include walks along the Nene, football matches at London Road, sledging at Ferry Meadows, being Bretton Festival Princess and the joy of being in a mosh pit.

Peterborough Poet Laureate 2018 Clare Currie then brought her poem, There is a City, to life in a film which explores perceptions of Peterborough. The film can be found on the Peterborough Presents website, and has so far been watched over 35,000 times.

Finally, more than residents have been professionally photographed and filmed sharing their Peterborough moment, which will form the exhibition in Queensgate.

The featured moments include:

Reverend Helena Del Pino, Holy Spirit Church, Bretton: “Going on a photo walk around Bretton and falling in love again with this town built for community, collaboration andchatting.

“Realising that the 1970s’ vision, the designers marked the vision of the church for hope, healing and humanity. Being filled with joy at the prospect of working together to nourish Bretton and continuing its story.”

Tony Nero, Peterborough Photographer Laureate: “During Find Me Keep Me, a treasure hunt of art organised by a Creative Peterborough. She said she had seen my artwork online and that she had come especially from Spalding to try and win my picture. She did.”

Kristal Destiny, Drag Queen: “I performed on stage at Pride. I was a bit nervous in front of hundreds of people but I felt like I belonged there. Peterborough is an amazing town, it’s so open for everyone.”

Mahemuda”Muni” Arsalani, Mosaic Artist: “Over a hundred volunteers contributed their time and skills to the community mosaics at the Green Backyard and Connect Park. These mosaics are a celebration of Peterborough’s diverse and inclusive community, who came together to create these beautiful works of art. I really love sharing my passion for mosaics with others.”

The Peterborough Telegraph’s food and drink writer Brad Barnes: “The transformation of Cathedral Square has sparked a wind of change in the city centre, rejuvenating the space, attracting new investments from outside. Restaurants & bars are becoming a “go-to” place that surprises visitors.”

The campaign received a Highly Commended award at the recent Peterborough Regional PR & Media Awards hosted by Athene.

The #1000Moments campaign is a collaboration between Peterborough Presents, We Love Peterborough, and Jumped Up Theatre. Residents were photographed by Thomas Byron Photography and filmed by Nick Reinis-Keightley.