Bristol’s vibrant music scene stepped out of clubs and into the city itself through PROCESS, an eight-week photography programme developed by Noods Levels in partnership with the Martin Parr Foundation and supported by WeTransfer, JACK ARTS, and Abbey Road Studios MPA. Working with six emerging artists, the initiative transformed creative exploration into a public-facing cultural showcase — treating the city’s streets as an outdoor gallery where identity, rhythm, and community become visual storytelling.
Music culture made visible
The programme invited young photographers to interpret Bristol’s sonic heritage across genres such as punk, hip-hop, breaking, ballroom, carnival traditions, and grassroots gig culture. These interpretations became visual narratives of belonging, resilience, and creative memory, revealing how music shapes the pulse of a city beyond sound.
Each story captures lived experience — not as performance, but as community identity vibrating through shared spaces, expressions, and histories.
OOH as cultural canvas
The citywide component, delivered through JACK ARTS, brought the work to scale: 51 large-format street posters across four major Bristol streets turned the public realm into a free, accessible exhibition. These installations didn’t just decorate infrastructure — they reframed it as living archives of community expression.
The result was an urban gallery where locals encountered art organically, making culture omnipresent rather than exclusive.
A multi-venue story of identity
PROCESS culminated in a layered series of touchpoints: a group exhibition at the Martin Parr Foundation, installations at the Royal Photographic Society, and the street takeover. Each space spoke to a different audience but retained one shared mission — celebrate Bristol’s creative heartbeat.
Stories that belong to the street
Rather than keeping creativity in cultural institutions, the programme embraced a contemporary philosophy: art belongs in public life. Posters became moments of encounter, reflection, and recognition — turning sidewalks into storytelling zones.
Instead of exhibitions that wait for audiences, these builds participate, inviting discovery in the flow of everyday life.
Final thoughts
PROCESS proves how OOH media can amplify culture when used not as promotion but as
narrative infrastructure. By merging youth voices, institutional support, and urban
visibility, Bristol didn’t just showcase creativity — it embedded it in the city.
FAQs about this campaign
What is the Bristol PROCESS project about?
It’s an eight-week photography programme where six emerging artists visualise Bristol’s music culture, culminating in exhibitions and a citywide outdoor gallery of large-format posters.
Who organised the project?
The project was developed by youth organisation Noods Levels in partnership with the Martin Parr Foundation, with support from partners including creative and cultural organisations.
How does OOH feature in the campaign?
OOH plays a central role through 51 large-format posters installed across four Bristol streets, turning walls and street furniture into a public gallery that anyone can experience.
What themes does the project explore?
The visuals explore themes of identity, resilience, connection and cultural memory through scenes of punk, hip-hop, breaking, ballroom, carnival traditions and grassroots gigs in Bristol.
What can brands and cities learn from this project?
They can see how outdoor media can go beyond promotion to become cultural infrastructure, using posters and billboards to amplify local voices, celebrate communities and turn streets into living galleries.
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