Ghostsigns Community

Digital Engagement & the Ghostsigns Archive: History Workshop Article

Laura Carletti and I have written a short paper for History Workshop Online.  This builds on the survey and offers some reflections on the development of the archive in 2009-10.

4 Apr 2012

Writing on the Wall working to preserve and restore ghostsigns in the Netherlands

This organisation in the Netherlands was established in 1999 and has been working ever since to raise the profile of hand painted wall advertising in the country.  They also get involved with other outdoor forms such as hanging signs and neon advertisements, but the main focus is Ghostsigns, especially their restoration and protection.  A lot […]

9 Mar 2012

Ghostsigns Research from Laura Carletti Scoops Award

Congratulations to Laura Carletti who took home an award for her presentation of the most recent paper on the Ghostsigns Project at the Digital Engagement conference in Newcastle.  The paper is available for download here, with the following note regarding copyright: “Permission to make digital or hard copies of all or part of this work […]

20 Nov 2011

Laura Carletti Abstract

Following the recent survey which is part of a larger research project, Laura Carletti has kindly given permission to publish the abstract of a paper she presented to the Digital Resources in the Humanities and Arts conference held back in September. The full title is: “Enhancement of niche cultural and social resources through crowd-contribution: the […]

12 Nov 2011

Ghostsigns Survey

[THIS SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED, see the results here] Just over a year ago we launched the History of Advertising Trust Ghostsigns Archive. From start to finish the project took exactly one year and this was made possible largely due to the use of online tools such as Flickr, Youtube and Facebook. I always meant […]

8 Jul 2011

Archive launches tomorrow…

The final video and image highlight as we count down to tomorrow’s launch of the archive. The picture is from the new Hotels & Restaurants gallery while the video features an assortment of different categories which previously didn’t have a home (they now do!). Finally, below, is another video from much earlier in the project […]

18 Mar 2010

Two days to launch…

Another video and image highlight as we count down to the launch of the archive on 19th March. These are from the Media & Entertainment gallery, although the video was made before the slight adjustment to the categories and has some for shops and retailers that have been split across a number of the new […]

17 Mar 2010

Three Days to Launch…

Another video and image highlight as we count down to the launch of the archive on 19th March. These are from the Tradesmen & DIY gallery, although the video was made before the slight adjustment to the categories and has some that now feature in the Hotels & Restaurants gallery. More tomorrow.

16 Mar 2010

Five days to launch…

Another video and image highlight as we count down to the launch of the archive on 19th March.  These are from the Services & Financial gallery. More tomorrow. Kodak / A.S.Ashby by casillero

14 Mar 2010

One week to launch…

Another video and image highlight as we count down to the launch of the archive on 19th March. These are from the Travel & Transport gallery. The images being featured in this countdown to launch are all those that feature on the postcard series which will be available to buy from Friday, 19th March. More […]

11 Mar 2010

Eight days to launch…

Another video and image highlight as we count down to the launch of the archive on 19th March. These are from the Shoes & Clothing gallery. More tomorrow.

10 Mar 2010

100 Contributors

100 photographers have now added their pictures to the forthcoming archive using this form. The 100th person to do so was Terry Cliss, known as casillero on Flickr, and one of his images is this one for a fantastic sign in Frome. Contributors to date: addedentry akvinby7 Albert S. Bite Alex Dennis Alquin Antony J […]

11 Dec 2009

Ghostsigns (Most Wanted)

Here are six Flickr galleries of signs not yet ready for inclusion in the Ghostsigns Archive.  The archive is set to launch in January 2010. To date there have been almost 3,000 photos added to the Flickr group from over 300 photographers. Many of these have also been confirmed as gifts to the History of […]

26 Nov 2009

Ghostsigns on Facebook

I’ve created a page on Facebook for the project which contains videos, photos, links and more. If you use Facebook then you can become a ‘fan’ which will add updates from the page into your news feed. Have a look at what’s going on and join. Ghostsigns on Facebook

15 Nov 2009

Forms Received

Just a quick update on the progress of the archive. So far over 90 forms have been received from those who have been contributing to the Flickr group. Thank you all, the plan is for the online archive to be launched in January 2010. There’s still some way to go in order to ensure that […]

3 Nov 2009

Services & Financial

Some great signs in the category of Services, Banks & Financial.  See more images in the Flickr group being used to set up the Ghost Signs Archive. Here’s a little montage featuring some of the most interesting signs. Thanks again to everyone contributing their images, keep them coming! If you have any interesting ghost signs […]

20 Jun 2009

Ghost Signs, The Archive

[The following blog post was written in March 2009 and signified the start of the effort to create a Ghostsigns Archive. This has been realised with the archive opening for business on 19th March 2010. Visit this page for more information.] So, what’s this new look banner on the blog? It’s the start of a […]

21 Mar 2009

Ghost Signs Society/Club/Group

[Update: This idea has taken life in the various online locations for Ghostsigns.] I visited Louis Sheldon-Williams last night and saw some of his photographs which featured in his exhibition. There are some lovely shots including some that have since disappeared (this example can still be seen on the garage on this street). We talked […]

10 Jul 2007