Centre Stage is a community portrait project inspired by a painting commissioned to mark Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee. In the 1887 painting, the community is pictured in the market place as a portrait of the town and its residents, but the reality was different; each person portrayed did so by subscription. We decided to create a contemporary portrait of Wisbech today, one in which everyone is invited.

Centre Stage is a powerful narrative of Wisbech’s living history, bridging past and present by celebrating the community’s rich diversity and ongoing story.

Centre Stage captures a contemporary snapshot of Wisbech through photographic portraits representing the diverse communities that make up the town. Alongside the full sized portraits, portrait miniatures are then housed within a unique, theatre set-inspired model built by scale artist Jess Wright and community members that reimagines the market place for the 21st century.

Centre Stage was exhibited initially at Wisbech and Fenland Museum in 2026 before touring the region.

Commissioned by Marketplace Arts and funded by Arts Council England.