Sheffield exhibition's record of people and places

A photographer is looking for the final subjects to complete an exhibition chronicling Sheffield's history and diversity.

Jeremy Abrahams’ show Arrivals will take place at Weston Park Museum’s Harold Cantor Gallery in September, documenting and charting Sheffield’s changing population.

The photographer is taking pictures of people who arrived in the city from another country in each year from 1945 to 2016.

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Each subject chooses whereabouts in Sheffield they would like their picture to be taken.

Jeremy also aims to produce a book, and has launched a crowdfunding campaign to help create the publication.

“Immigration is a significant part of Sheffield’s past and present,” he said.

“I wanted to humanise the issue by taking photos of immigrants and allowing them to share their stories.”

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Jeremy added: “I need a few more people to complete this project and would urge anyone who would like to take part to contact me.

“I’ve met and photographed fascinating people from all over the world - from places as diverse as Jamaica and Pakistan, Italy and Gaza.”

He continued: “I now want to create a book which will tell the story of migration to Sheffield and how generations of arrivals have helped to shape the creative and diverse city Sheffield has become.

“The book will include all of the images and stories from the exhibition and will bring them to the attention of a wider audience.

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“I hope that through the book I will help further positive and humane attitudes to migration.”

The earliest subject is Tanya Schmoller, an expert on fine art paper and a stalwart of the Nether Edge community, who died earlier this year. She came to Sheffield in 1945.

The most recent so far is Tareq Al-Khaleeli, who came to the city with his family from Syria last year after securing a British visa.

Jeremy, a professional photographer based in Sheffield, was made redundant from his job as an education consultant with Barnsley Council three years ago.

He went on to complete a foundation degree in photography at Sheffield College in 2014.

n Visit www.jeremyabrahams.co.uk/arrivals or email [email protected] for details.