National Portrait Gallery Facing East project offers Eastender's view of London 2012

Exhibition: Road to 2012: Facing East at Four Corners, 121 Roman Road, London, August 9 - September 9 2012

The National Portrait Gallery is following up its recent Road to 2012: Aiming High exhibition of poised photos of the protagonists of London 2012 with a thoughtful off-site examination of the East End communities within the shadow of the Olympic stadium.

Road to 2012: Facing East documents the impact of the Games on East Enders via a series of 65 photographs taken by fine art and photography students from the University of East London

Working with the photographers behind the NPG’s high profile exhibition, the students were coached by Anderson & Low, Jillian Edelstein, Brian Griffin, Emma Hardy, Nadav Kander and Bettina von Zwehl.

The result is a vivid portfolio of East End characters ranging from Games volunteers and people working for the Green Legacy in the Lee Valley to swimming club members, coffee shop baristas, commuters, landlords, locals and allotment owners.

Liz Smith, the NPG’s Director of Participation and Learning said the project added “texture and vibrancy” to the gallery’s overall Road to 2012 Project, and Professor Catherine Harper, of the University of East London, described it as a “wonderful opportunity to explore contemporary photography and hone their professional skills through working alongside the truly inspirational Road to 2012 photographers.”

The exhibition can be seen at Four Corners, an organisation committed to promoting artistic participation and inspiring work that wouldn’t otherwise happen.

London’s centre for film and photography, it enables people to achieve their potential through their unique facilities.

• Open Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm. Admission Free. Tube: Bethnal Green. More information at www.npg.org.uk/roadto2012