Gallery: Mods, rockers and old time classics from Sandwell
Mods, rockers and old time classics - these nostalgic photos are among hundreds of images offering an insight into life in Sandwell during the 1970s, 80s and early 90s.
The photos have been unearthed from the basement of West Bromwich Town Hall and now take price of place in a new exhibition in the town.
The 'Unseen Sandwell' exhibition is showcasing hundreds of images taken by community group Jubilee Arts during a 20 year period of 1974 to 1994.
Many of the photographs are of the group's artistic activities while others capture social change across the borough.
The project is the brainchild of former Jubilee Arts' member Brendan Jackson who has worked with Sandwell Community Archives Service over the last four years to get the scheme off the ground.
From the 20,000 images which formed the Jubilee Arts Archive, it was a forerunner to the 'selfie' which inspired the whole project. Taken in Oak Road, West Bromwich, in 1985, the image shows four young lads with a Small Faces album.
Mr Jackson said: "I love this picture. It was taken at a community festival event. A space for self-portraits was made by dragging a large piece of chipboard around and propping it up, setting up a camera on a tripod with an air release rubber bulb cable release attaché, then inviting people to make a picture of themselves.
"It was the second coming of the Mods and one of the lads insisted on going back home to get their favourite Small Faces LP from 1967, before being photographed.
"Today this form of portraiture has mutated into the taking of selfies."
Self-portrait exhibitions were one of the many activities Jubilee Arts, formed in 1974, organised across Sandwell.
Rather than having a permanent home they took art to the masses in their brightly painted double decker bus which would visit the borough's estates.
They raised more than £2 million for their activities, worked with 850 different groups and were able to reach more than 200,000 people.
In 2004 it was absorbed into a company which worked to establish the failed arts centre, The Public.
The photos are on display at Sandwell College's Central Sixth campus until May 27.
The exhibition is open from Monday to Friday between 10am and 4pm. Admission is free.
