To celebrate 150 years of Alexandra Palace in 2023, British visual artist, Helen Marshall founder of the People’s Picture, will create a new permanent, artwork here, featuring your pictures and memories of the Palace!
Thousands of you have sent in your photos, ahead of deadline in January. Keep them coming! In the meantime, here’s just a few of our favourites so far…
Ionna, “A picture taken from my 7 years old son after ice skating”.
Tara, “I used to go ice skating at Ally Pally as a child and now I am taking my own child to experience the fun of ice skating here too. My son loves to feed the ducks. On the Queens Jubilee my husband, son and I watched it.”
Sarah, “My partner, Essie, and I pictured in Palm Court. We met in 2020 two months before the COVID lockdowns. Ally Pally provided our 2nd date (1st chance for me to show off ice skating!) & beautiful social distance meets on the hill.”
Geoff, “This is a picture of my maternal grandparents, Engracia (Known as Grace) and Stanley Brown, being filmed at Alexandra Palace in the 1930s. Ernest Stanley Brown JP was a trustee of the Palace, leader of the council and in charge of the Air Raid Wardens.”
Ben, “I grew up by Ally Pally in the house my parents still live in today. We regularly walk up to take in the view at the front of the Palace. This selfie is with my wife, parents and one week old daughter – her first trip to Ally Pally!”
Illana, “We love the pilgrimage up the hill from the station, beer in hand, anticipating whichever live performances we have ahead. Foals, Four Tet, Haim, and The National have been the most memorable throughout our relationship!”
Rob, “Ally Pally is our North London sanctuary and has been since we moved to Wood Green in 2016. This is Ada (our daughter) taking a well-earned puddle plunge up at Ally Pally back in Jan 2021!”
Alison, “We live locally and visit AP regularly if just for a walk, ice skating, mini golf or simply driving through as a family. Love the park and it’s been our regular excursion since my girls were babies”
Akshat, “Trekked up from Sydney to watch The National play. Only thing that could make it better was them playing THE Palace!”
Louise, “I got engaged!”
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED: To feature in By the People: 150 Lifetimes, simply send a selfie, portrait picture of you, a friend or family member, or a favourite photo of the Park and Palace, together with a short explanation of your Ally Pally story. The process takes less than three minutes and just a few clicks of your computer. Helen will then use your picture along with thousands of others, to construct her final work.
By the People: 150 Lifetimes, which is funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, explores themes of heritage, identity and place. It will culminate in the creation of a giant mosaic which will be displayed in the Palace’s East Court for all visitors to see.
Helen Marshall’s acclaimed work is displayed across the world, including at Kennedy Space Centre, the National Memorial Arboretum and Gatwick airport, amongst others – with By the People set to be unveiled in early 2024. Before then however, we want your photos and are calling on visitors, Londoners and anyone with a connection to Ally Pally to help create the mural!
