
Voices from The Hub – real life experiences through the power of storytelling and photography
A week-long exhibition portraying the personal stories of people who have lived experience of homelessness, substance misuse, mental health conditions and offending will open on the 21st May at the Open Eye Gallery.
Liverpool Waves of Hope, one of twelve partnerships in England supported by National Lottery funding from the Big Lottery Fund, is organising the exhibition, which will feature a variety of photography, creative writing and animation.
The exhibition was made possible through a creative writing group run at The Basement on Parr Street, and will capture the thoughts, memories, experiences and emotions of its participants.
Jamie Barton, Creative Writing Tutor said:
“I share a history of addiction and mental ill-health with members of the creative writing group, and really value the time we get to spend together, connecting through a mixture of imaginative expression and emotional memory reportage. As a group, we have often felt that we are dismissed and that our voices are drowned out, even in matters that directly relate to us. Having this work exhibited in such a renowned and important Liverpool gallery, to be enjoyed by locals and internationals alike, is an achievement that we are hugely proud of.”
The Liverpool Waves of Hope programme works specifically with people who are living with a combination of issues including, homelessness, reoffending, substance misuse and mental health. It is one of 12 programmes across the country to have received Big Lottery funding of £10m to carry out this work over a period of five years, with the aim of encouraging lasting change.