Open for Business

Open for Business is the story of contemporary British manufacturing and industry told through the lens of nine internationally renowned documentary photographers.

In 2013, Jonas Bendiksen, Stuart Franklin, Bruce Gilden, David Hurn, Peter Marlow, Martin Parr, Mark Power, Chris Steele-Perkins and Alessandra Sanguinetti photographed over 100 workplaces across the UK, from one-man businesses to FTSE 100 companies.

Through eye-opening photography and film footage, Open for Business celebrates the resilience of British industry and reveals the daily struggle at a human level as businesses attempt to cut costs, streamline processes and level up to international competition. The project captures British manufacturing’s effect on regional culture and community life, and celebrates the work, activities and lives of its employees.

Bristol based photographer Martin Parr has captured the innovative industries in the city from Cameron Balloons’ 40 year history as the largest manufacture of hot air balloons in the world, to the cutting edge engineering at BAE Systems and the more painstaking meticulous work of Aardman Animations.

See a diverse collection of over 100 documentary photographs presented in this national touring exhibition.

Open for Business has been commissioned and produced by Multistory in collaboration with Magnum Photos and made possible with funding from Arts Council England and the National Lottery, through the Strategic Funds Touring Programme, and the cultural partners.