Mitcham Market has been given a vibrant new lease of life, as photographs created by local young people take centre stage across the town’s market banners.
Home Ground: A New Mitcham Archive is a brilliant community project led by local photographer Francis Augusto, who worked with a group of young people from Mitcham to explore their neighbourhood through film photography. The project gave participants the opportunity to capture the places, people and moments that make Mitcham feel like home, while developing their creative skills, learning how to present their work and building confidence along the way.
The result is now on display across 16 banners at Mitcham Market, creating a unique public exhibition that brings the young people’s work directly into the heart of their community. The new designs have replaced the previous set of banners and will be on display until the 15th November, 2026.
Rather than being confined to a traditional gallery, these photographs can be enjoyed by everyone passing through the market and town centre. Familiar streets and everyday moments are given a fresh perspective, with Mitcham being documented through the eyes of the young people who live there.
Supporting creativity in the community
For Bay Media, this project was a fantastic opportunity to support an inspiring local initiative as part of our social responsibility programme. We were delighted to provide the banner production and installation at a reduced price, helping to bring the exhibition out into the streets and give the young photographers a platform to share their work with the wider community.
The project is a wonderful example of what can happen when local organisations come together to create opportunities for young people and celebrate the places they call home.
Following the opening of the open-air exhibition, Francis Augusto shared his thanks with everyone involved, praising the young people for their enthusiasm and creativity while also highlighting how seamless the collaboration with Bay Media had been.
“Yesterday went so so well and the young people were brilliant. Thank you for your support and being so easy to work with.
It was fantastic to hear such positive feedback and a lovely reflection of the collaborative spirit behind the project. From the council and Francis to the young participants and everyone involved in bringing the exhibition to life, it was a real team effort.
Celebrating Mitcham through a new lens
Supported by Merton Council’s Culture & Heritage Grants, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Cultural Impact Award as part of the Mayor of London’s London Borough of Culture, Home Ground is helping to create a new visual archive of Mitcham.
Most importantly, it gives local young people the opportunity to tell their own stories, showcase their creativity and share their own view of the community they know best.
We’re incredibly proud to have played a part in bringing this project to life and to have helped transform Mitcham Market into a public gallery where local talent can be celebrated every day.
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