Kate seeks a snapshot of how we battled the virus
THE Duchess of Cambridge wants people to send her their most powerful photographs documenting the nation in the coronavirus crisis.
Kate, in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery, today launches the Hold Still project, which aims to create an archive of amateur and professional photographs capturing the spirit, mood, hopes and fears of the UK during the crisis.
The Duchess, who is patron of the gallery and a keen photographer, was inspired by images of medical staff on the front line and families dealing with lockdown to come up with the idea of creating a unique portrait of the nation.
Kate said: “We’ve all been struck by some of the incredible images we’ve seen which have given us an insight into the experiences and stories of people across the country.
“Some desperately sad images showing the human tragedy of this pandemic and other uplifting pictures showing people coming together to support those more vulnerable.
“Hold Still aims to capture a portrait of the nation, the spirit of the nation, what everyone is going through at this time. Photographs reflecting resilience, bravery, kindness – all those things that people are experiencing.”
Among the images that inspired her was a picture that featured on the front page of the Daily Express on Easter Saturday of exhausted intensive care nurse Aimee Goold pleading with the public to save lives by staying at home over the bank holiday weekend. Her face was bruised and battered by wearing personal protective equipment over a 13-hour shift at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospital.
Kate, who will appear in a prerecorded interview with Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on ITV’s This Morning programme to promote the project today, has invited people of all ages to submit a photographic portrait along with a short written submission outlining the experiences and emotions of those in the picture.
There will be three core themes: Helpers and Heroes; Your New Normal; and Acts of Kindness.
Kate, 38, is expected to curate one of the categories.
A hundred shortlisted portraits will feature in a digital exhibition open to all and a selection of images will also be shown across the UK later in the year. The images can be captured on phones or cameras and each image will be assessed on the emotion and experience it conveys rather than its photographic quality or technical expertise.
The Duchess has spent four weeks discussing how best to record the pandemic with Nicholas Cullinan, director of the National Portrait Gallery. He said: “Even if we are alone, we can all create something together. We are honoured to partner with the Duchess of Cambridge on the Hold Still project, which will provide an inclusive perspective on, and an important historical record of, these unprecedented times, expressed through the faces of the nation.
“We are now inviting each and every person, across every city, town, village and home in the UK, to share their portraits with us in this unique collective endeavour.”
● Submissions for Hold Still can be made up to June 18 via: www.npg.org.uk.