Wikipedia defines 'cost of living' as "the cost of maintaining a certain standard of living" But we intuitively have an idea of what lies behind and beneath the headline.
Although currently in the daily news, the issues and consequences around the 'cost of living’ have, of course, always been with us. We tend to define it in purely economic terms, and money does shape life expectations, choices, and chances, alongside factors such as race, gender, disability and age. The effects and consequences can, though, be expressed through class, wealth, housing, and health outcomes, etc.
We have, therefore, looked for submissions that interpret the theme in the widest possible sense and context - in terms of the 'costs of living' and the price to be paid - to form a depth of creative, documentary responses. For this project, we haven't set a strict time limit for when images were taken, opening up the possibility of making connections across time and place. This will offer opportunities to highlight continuities and differences, persistent inequalities and social injustices, and contrasting life choices and chances. For curation purposes, then, we have looked for images taken over years and decades, as well as in the recent past.
Over the months leading up to the exhibition, an ongoing, dynamic website gallery of ideas offers a range of interpretations.
Over the months leading up to the exhibition, an ongoing, dynamic website gallery of ideas offers a range of interpretations.
Participants have explored the theme from many perspectives.
