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University loan to safeguard photography archive

Evie LakeNorth East and Cumbria
Dorman Long Collection A black and white photograph showing the building on the Tyne Bridge from the Gateshead side. Construction is taking place on either side of the river, but the arch going over the water is just beginning to take shape. There are factories and buildings surrounding the structure, with the High Level Bridge and Swing Bridge visible behind it to the left. There are multiple cranes working on the bridge. The sky is covered in white clouds.Dorman Long Collection
The AmberSide collection features more than 20,000 photographs documenting working class life in north-east England

A photography and film collection is to go on loan to a university to help protect its future.

The AmberSide Collection contains more than 20,000 photographs, 100 films and paper and digital archives documenting working class communities across north-east England.

The collection was based at Newcastle's Side gallery before it closed in 2023. Side announced earlier this year it would open a curational office at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.

Now a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant has allowed AmberSide Trust to set up the project Relocating Amber at Newcastle University to help improve public access to the collection.

Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen A black and white photograph of four children standing in a living room dressed in black jazz band uniforms with long, column hats. The uniforms are military-style and the child front-right is holding a small, brass instrument. They are all smiling into the camera and they are standing on a heavily patterned carpet in front of a brick fireplace. The wall above the fireplace has wood panels and a few photographs. There is a television on the right.Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen
AmberSide said the loan will allow greater public access to the collection

Side gallery was opened by the Amber film and photography collective in 1977 to capture and celebrate life in the North East.

It closed in 2023 due to "critical funding cuts and the cost of living crisis", but in January it said the new curational office would allow it to bring its collection to a wider audience.

Bruce Rae A black and white photograph of a man inside a metal structure which looks to be part of a ship. It is in the process of being built and is on its side facing the camera. The man is dressed in black and looking into the camera. There is a ladder leaning against it. The structure looks to be inside a large warehouse with metal walls.Bruce Rae
Newcastle University said it was "proud" to be able to "safeguard" the archive

Managing director of the AmberSide Trust Laura Laffler said the collection was "built through long-term relationships with communities across the North East".

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