HOMELESS art exhibition encourages insight and understanding
HOMELESS by Craig Easton opened at Wycombe Arts Centre on Friday 24th February.
Multi award-winning photographer Craig Easton was co-commissioned by Wycombe Homeless Connection, Aylesbury Homeless Action Group and Buckinghamshire Culture to work with people who have experienced homelessness, to amplify their voice and to raise awareness and encourage the public to view people who are homeless with greater insight and understanding. The project was funded by the Rothschild Foundation through Buckinghamshire Culture.
During the autumn of 2022 Craig worked with eight individuals, to record their stories and personal experiences of homelessness through photographs, text and audio. These works make up this moving and inspiring exhibition.
James Boultbee, CEO of Wycombe Homeless Connection and Aylesbury Homeless Action Group explains "As well as providing support for people who are homeless, our charities also aim to share what we know about homelessness with local people who want to know more. Facts and figures are part of that but I think anyone who comes to see the exhibition will agree that it offers the chance for local people to look closer. These are the words and pictures of real people who wanted to share their stories with you and I think there is a great opportunity to form deeper understanding and connection with issues involved with homelessness here. WHC and AHAG do need your support to keep providing help but first we wanted to simply give people a chance to connect with the issue and Craig has done that so well".
Buckinghamshire Culture Co-Chair, Julius Weinberg said “Art and culture has a unique way of speaking to people, raising awareness of the world around us and giving people a voice. This project has done just that. Working with Wycombe Homeless Connection and Aylesbury Homeless Action Group, Buckinghamshire Culture has been able to fundraise and support commissioning Craig, who has addressed this aim so successfully. We hope it will also inspire other organisations to work with cultural organisations to achieve their objectives in innovative and life-changing ways”.
As well as the exhibition, which continues until 31st
March, Craig has produced a newspaper of the images and stories which is available from AHAG and WHC for a suggested donation.
The project has been funded by Rothschild Foundation as part of a larger project, aiming to support the cultural sector and their partners after the pandemic and encouraging organisations to use culture to contribute to fulfilling their agendas.
The exhibition opened at the Wycombe Arts Centre will be open until 31st March.
Specific opening hours can be found here on the Wycombe Arts Centre website alongside some of the content of the exhibition including the audio of the people featured.