Safestore Holdings PLC, which operates 131 self-storage facilities in France and the United Kingdom, hosted a photography exhibit earlier this month at its facility in Old Trafford, Manchester, England. The presentation featured photos from four University of Salford students, whose work was showcased March 3-7 at the 34 Brindley Road property.

Titled “Belong,” the exhibition examined “how people’s belongings have been taken out of place and out of context, and positioned where they don’t usually belong,” according to the Safestore blog.

“[Self-storage], to us, meant a place where people can store excess items, belongings and things they didn’t have room for at home,” said artist and student Jeni Harney. “My particular work looks at poverty and homelessness, asking people to select six things they would save if their home was repossessed, which I’d then photograph.”

Artist Becky Hollingsworth photographed objects related to family members. Menna Jones took pictures of belongings that reminded her friends of home. Coral Talbot looked at consumerism and people’s obsessions with belongings.

“It’s been great to be able to use the large space at Safestore to exhibit our photography project, and it’s especially exciting and poignant given the theme of our display to be able to use a place [that] looks after the belongings we don’t have room for at home,” Harney said.

Alistair Johnson, manager for Safestore Manchester, said the exhibit was a good opportunity to partner with the students. “We’re really pleased to be able to offer the space to the students so they can showcase their work to the public,” he said.  

Safestore operates 131 self-storage facilities, including 95 facilities it owns in the U.K. and 24 in France. Its wholly owned properties comprise more than 5 million square feet of storage space, while its entire portfolio serves approximately 49,000 customers.

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