Taylor Wessing supports National Portrait Gallery for launch of Hold Still

International law firm Taylor Wessing today announces its involvement in a first-of-its-kind photography project.

Building on a relationship stretching back 12 years, Taylor Wessing is supporting Hold Still, an ambitious community photography project to capture the spirit, the mood, the hopes, the fears and the feelings of the nation as we continue to deal with the Coronavirus outbreak.

Launched by The Duchess of Cambridge and the National Portrait Gallery on Thursday 7 May, Hold Still will create a unique photographic portrait of the people of the nation as we hold still for the good of others, and celebrate those who have continued so we can stay safe.

As of today, members of the British public will be able to submit photographs documenting their experiences of life in lockdown. One hundred shortlisted portraits will feature in a virtual exhibition on the National Portrait Gallery’s website and a selection of images will also be shown across the UK later in the year.

Participants are encouraged to provide a short written submission to outline the experiences and emotions of those depicted in their photograph. The project will focus on three core themes:

Helpers and Heroes
Your New Normal
Acts of Kindness

Completely free and open to all ages and abilities, Hold Still will capture a snapshot of the UK at this time, creating a collective portrait of lockdown which will reflect resilience and bravery, humour and sadness, creativity and kindness, and human tragedy and hope.

More than ever before, we're seeing first-hand the importance of all of these things keeping our society together. Expressing ourselves through creative outlets is an important part of maintaining a sense of normality and a reminder of the significance of human connection in times of adversity.

We're thrilled to be able to support Hold Still. It's a privilege to be part of such an accessible project that we feel sure will capture everyone's hearts and imaginations, bringing us all closer together in these extraordinary circumstances. For a long time we have enjoyed working as a team with the National Portrait Gallery to create a platform that allows talented photographers to flourish. Creativity is such an important part of our culture. It plays a central role in helping us to understand different perspectives, so it's a pleasure to support this project which will enable people to use their photographs to connect and share their stories.”

Shane Gleghorn | Managing Partner, Taylor Wessing

Submissions for Hold Still can be made from 0001hrs today (Thursday 7 May) via: www.npg.org.uk/holdstill. The closing date will be the 18 June, 2020. 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.

For 164 years, the National Portrait Gallery has existed to tell the stories of the people of Great Britain through the medium of portraits. In these unprecedented times, it is now more important than ever that we find ways to document and share our individual and collective stories of an experience which has impacted everybody’s lives in a multitude of ways.

Speaking about Hold Still, Nicholas Cullinan, Director of the National Portrait Gallery London, 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. The National Portrait Gallery reflects the history of Britain through the personal stories of the people who have helped to shape it. 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.

Nicholas Cullinan | Director, National Portrait Gallery London

www.npg.org.uk/holdstill

#HoldStill2020

For further press information please contact:
National Portrait Gallery: Laura McKechan, Head of Communications (Interim),
Email: press@npg.org.uk / lmckechan@npg.org.uk Tel: +44 7855 7686750