NBCF × THE MARTIN PARR FOUNDATION

A Tribute to Martin Parr

A new mural and public programme celebrating Martin Parr and The Last Resort — created in collaboration with the Martin Parr Foundation.

New Brighton Creative Futures is developing a major new public artwork honouring one of Britain’s most important photographers — Martin Parr — and his landmark series The Last Resort, made here in New Brighton.

We are proud to be developing this tribute in collaboration with the Martin Parr Foundation. Today we are opening the project to the community: inviting donations, local business sponsors and supporters to help bring it to life.

Why Martin Parr, and why here

The Last Resort is one of the most important bodies of photography ever made. And it was made in New Brighton.

Made while Parr was living and working here, the series did more than document a place and a period — it changed how everyday British seaside life was seen, with wit, honesty and colour.

For New Brighton, this is not just art history. It is local memory, cultural identity and international significance, all in one place. This project celebrates that legacy and gives it a new, public life on the street — something residents and visitors can stand in front of, share and be proud of.

Martin Parr & New Brighton - A Timeline

The Film - I Am Martin Parr - Official UK Trailer

Dogwoof - Since the 1970s, English photographer Martin Parr has held up a sometimes tender, sometimes critical and always mischievous mirror to our times, forcing us to take a hard look at how consumer society has shaped our lives. Discover the maverick behind some of the most iconic images of the past century on an intimate and exclusive road trip across England with the uncompromising Parr, whose subjects, frames and colours have revolutionised contemporary photography.

Our Vision

Our ambition is to create a mural that is not merely decorative and not simply commemorative. We want a piece that is:

·       Visually ambitious

·       Rooted in place

·       Informed by Martin Parr’s legacy

·       Meaningful to local people

·       Strong enough to stand within New Brighton’s wider OpenAir Gallery

·       Capable of attracting regional, national and international cultural interest

The aim is a permanent cultural marker for New Brighton — a piece of public art that belongs to the town and rewards the people who pass it every day.

More Than a Mural — A Public Programme

Alongside the artwork, we are exploring a wider public programme celebrating Martin Parr and photography in New Brighton. Subject to funding and partner support, this could include:

·       A screening of a Martin Parr documentary at a local cinema

·       Public talks and discussion events

·       Opportunities for residents to share memories and stories of New Brighton

·       A public launch and celebration

The aim is simple: not just to put up a wall, but to create a cultural moment for the town.

Part of New Brighton’s OpenAir Gallery

Over the past eight years, New Brighton’s Victoria Quarter has gradually evolved into one of the most concentrated clusters of large-scale murals in the United Kingdom — a walkable, open-air gallery where art, public space and independent businesses sit side by side.

This tribute to Martin Parr will join that growing collection, adding one of the most significant chapters yet to the town’s creative story.

In Collaboration with the Martin Parr Foundation

This project is being developed together with the Martin Parr Foundation, whose guidance helps ensure the tribute is respectful, accurate and aligned with Martin Parr’s legacy.