Shirley Baker: Airport '87

A look back at Manchester Airport as seen through the lens of photographer Shirley Baker, thirty years ago. Baker spent a day at the airport in 1987 capturing the experiences of passengers using the airport. The exhibition includes photographs chosen by the public and Manchester Airport staff. As well as capturing various areas of the airport, Baker’s photographs also show how people passed the time before a flight by playing cards and board games – a far cry from smartphones, tablets, and Kindles of today. The style of passengers is also brought into focus with big hair and plenty of shell suits on show.

Born in Salford, Baker was famed for her street photography of working class inner-city areas. The photographs of Manchester Airport were discovered in the archives at Central Library. They explore work created after Shirley Baker was approached by the Documentary Photography Archive (DPA), who were seeking to commission photographers to build their collection of contemporary work.

Location: Manchester Central Library, St Peter's Sq, Manchester M2 5PD.
Open: Monday to Thursday 09:00 - 20:00; Friday & Saturday 09:00 - 17:00 (closed Bank Holidays), until 6 January 2018.