The Living City: The inside story behind Preston's coronavirus lockdown

A rare example of a project which goes far deeper than speaking to those who traditionally have louder voices to begin with and which aims to offer a more holistic and far-reaching account of how the past seven months have impacted people, the initiative was unique in its remit.

As Emma Lowther-Wright, who spoke to more than 30 people for The Living City, says, it ‘holds a mirror up to the lived experience in Preston’.

Emma, aided by They Eat Culture - a group which programmes, commissions, and produces cultural work in the city - was spurred into action by a desire to create something which depicted the lived reality of those living in Preston and which told their stories.

“They Eat Culture is very much about giving people a platform and lockdown has been a very interesting and unique time,” says Emma, who was born in Leeds but who has lived in Preston for two decades. “We wanted to listen to anyone who wanted to tell us how they were feeling; we were a non-judgmental sounding board which allowed people from all different walks of life to express themselves.

“It was really interesting and some people spoke to us about things they hadn’t spoken to anyone else about,” adds Emma, 42, who also paid tribute to Ruth Heritage, Director of They Eat Culture, for her work on the project. “Just having someone actively listening was therapeutic and really made people feel comfortable.”

Covering a range of people from office workers, fitness instructors, and DJs to bus drivers, retail staff, and manufacturing workers, the project also saw numerous artists and photographers commissioned to create works reflecting the lived lockdown experience.

“It was essential to get a wide range of perspectives,” says Emma, a trained sound therapist and the owner of Mandala Yoga And Wellbeing. “For people who may be relatively well-off, who are comfortable, and who aren’t lonely, the narrative was ‘oh, let’s learn how to make sourdough or try some yoga’. But we wanted to hold the mirror up to people who may not have enjoyed lockdown as much.”

Writing on The Living City’s website, animator and film-maker Christian Krupa says: “In the past few months we have all lost things. These losses are varied, from jobs and money, to lives and loved ones. One thing we all have in common is a loss of freedom, of choice, of the simple right to be in a public space and meet people.

“Many of us have also found things; some good, others bad,” Christian continues. “From spare time activities to increased respect for the job that teachers do looking after our children or the role that front line workers play in all of our lives. Some have found their lives and grief become intolerable while locked within the confines of their own homes, while others are feeling a freedom that they haven’t felt since summer holidays as a child.

“Some are finding a new sense of belonging while others feel more alienated than ever. This project seeks to preserve a slice of this moment.”

Emma says that speaking to people was ‘emotional and thought-provoking’.

“To get so many perspectives and hear from people who had reassessed their lives during lockdown was enlightening,” she says. “I really enjoyed it - I’m used to being around people so it really helped me to speak to people. I felt connected to them.

“There’s a lot of pride in the project; pride is something which came across from people,” Emma adds. “We’re proud of Preston and all we really want is for people to be happy and healthy.”