NEWS: MICHAEL KERSTGENS LAUNCHES STRIKE PHOTOGRAPHY BOOK 30 YEARS ON

Coal Not Dole
Copyright Michael Kerstgens

On Saturday 15th March, at the Experience Barnsley Museum, German photographer Michael Kerstgen’s launches his new book, Coal Not Dole, with a talk about his experience documenting the 1984/85 strikes from the front line.

From branch meetings to soup kitchens, Kerstgens created an incredible pictorial record of life on the front line of the miner’s strike. A student from a mining family in Germany, he came to Barnsley in 1984 where he resided in Darfield with Spud and Marsha Marshall who were active campaigners.
Kerstgen’s was originally born in Llanelly, South Wales in 1960, and in 1965, moved to Germany, attending school in Mülheim. Since graduating from the University GHS Essen (Folkwang), he has gone on to be a freelance photographer for national and international magazines, and is now the Professor for Documentary Photography at University of Applied Science in Darmstadt. He currently lives with his family in Oberhausen/Rheinland.

Michael Kerstgen’s talk, My Journey Through The Strikes, 1984/85, takes place on Saturday 15th March, at 2pm. The talk is free. However, booking is essential as places are limited. To book your place call the museum’s front of house on 01226 772500.

Find out more about Michael Kerstgens photography at kerstgens.de/
Find out more about Experience Barnsley events here experience-barnsley.com

‘Wombwell Meeting’ Copyright Michael Kerstgens.

Barnsley Chronicle, Jan 1985
‘Spud Marshall gave the article to me in September 2012. I couldn’t remember I met Estrild Jones. You did, he said. He kept the article in a tiny plastic bag, including all articles, interviews and TV documentaries about Marsha and the strike’. MK