People across Wigan and Leigh are being invited to step into a free pop-up photography studio this summer and help shape a new exhibition about local identity.
The project, led by Open Eye Hub and Wigan Council with Wigan and Leigh College, will give residents the chance to have a professional portrait taken by photographer Christopher Nunn. The sessions are drop-in, free to attend and open to anyone who wants to take part alone, with friends or with family.
The first studio opens at the Open Eye Hub at Leigh Town Hall on Saturday 20 June, from 11am to 3pm. A second session will take place at Makinson Arcade, Wigan, on Saturday 11 July, also from 11am to 3pm.
Free portrait sessions in Leigh and Wigan
The pop-up studios are designed for residents who want something more considered than a phone selfie. Those who take part will work with Christopher Nunn and his team to create an image, and they will receive the photograph to take away on the day.
The sessions form part of a wider photography project celebrating the people, voices and character of the borough. Earlier shoots have already taken place at Wigan Roller Rink and Wigan Youth Zone, building what organisers describe as a cross-section of local life.
A selection of images from the project will be used in a borough-wide exhibition this autumn. The display is expected to appear across public spaces, shop windows, digital screens and online, putting residents’ portraits into everyday places around Wigan and Leigh.
Readers interested in community-led cultural events may also want to see this guide to a free local photography exhibition.
When and where to take part
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Saturday 20 June | Open Eye Hub at Leigh Town Hall, 11am to 3pm |
| Saturday 11 July | Makinson Arcade, Wigan, 11am to 3pm |
| Cost | Free |
| Entry | Drop in anytime during opening hours |
| Who can attend | Residents from across the borough, solo or with friends and family |
No booking details have been provided in the source notice. The stated arrangement is drop-in attendance during the listed times.
Photography, writing and local stories
Alongside the portrait sessions, visitors will also find creative activities linked to photography and writing. The aim is to give residents a way to share something of their own story while taking part in a professional shoot.
Open Eye Hub is a socially engaged photography programme delivered by Open Eye Gallery, Wigan Council and Wigan and Leigh College. Its work includes community participation, artist commissions and a Fellowship scheme for emerging local photographers entering the cultural sector.
Chris Ready, Wigan Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for communities and neighbourhoods, said the project would capture “the people, voices and experiences” of the community and place residents’ diverse stories at the heart of the display.
Christopher Nunn said he is interested in how photography can be used collaboratively, both as a way for people to share their stories and as “a record of a time and place.”
Practical details for visitors
The pop-up photography studio at Leigh Town Hall runs on Saturday 20 June from 11am to 3pm. The Wigan session at Makinson Arcade runs on Saturday 11 July from 11am to 3pm.
Both sessions are free, drop-in events. Residents can attend alone, with friends or with family, and the image will be available to take away on the day.
Source: Wigan Council
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This preview is based on the published Wigan Council event notice and keeps to the dates, venues, cost and participation details provided there.
- Confirmed the two listed event dates: 20 June and 11 July 2026.
- Checked both stated venues: Open Eye Hub at Leigh Town Hall and Makinson Arcade, Wigan.
- Confirmed the sessions are free and described as drop-in.
- Kept booking, transport and accessibility details out because they were not supplied in th...
- Source
- Wigan Council
- Scope
- Wigan and Leigh
- Updated
- 2026-06-19 09:37
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