Exhibition Photographs

Samantha

Sweety Sweety

Max Since its beginnings, Gosforth Civic Theatre has evolved into a social enterprise dedicated to raising expectations of what people with learning disabilities can achieve, while welcoming the whole community through activities for all.

Image by Johannah Churchil with the Berwick Youth Project and The Maltings, Berwick.

Image by Johannah Churchil with the Berwick Youth Project and The Maltings, Berwick.

Working with those connected to the armed forces, either as veterans or their families, the Customs House in South Shields lead on a project shaped by local history and personal memories, drawing on the powerful legacy of South Tyneside’s seafaring past and the vital role that local people played during the Second World War they … Continued

Ozzy Gosforth Civic Theatre is the UK’s only theatre founded and guided by people with learning disabilities. Liberdade Community Development Trust (pronounced lib-er-dar-jie), the disability arts charity that took over and transformed Gosforth Civic Theatre in 2016, takes its name from the Brazilian Portuguese word for Liberty. Liberdade literally means Freedom.

Donnagh Recordings filmed across Stockton and live performances were brought together in a public event in November 2025, reflecting the town’s diverse voices. The project involved three rooted communities at ARC: Full Circle, an award-winning learning-disabled theatre company; refugees and asylum seekers; and adults taking part in ARC’s weekly creative classes, such as ukulele class.

Lily Rose, commissioned artist. Hartlepool Community Hubs and Libraries led a town-specific project in close partnership with local museums, including Heugh Battery Museum, the Local and Family History Centre, and Hartlepool Art Gallery.

Alexandra “These people you see and many more are part of the foundations of our building, they cement its heritage and future: Freedom is choice. Freedom is independence, Freedom is being seen.” – Helen Kumar, Community Engagement Manager at Gosforth Civic Theatre.

Simon & Andrew Gosforth Civic Theatre promotes inclusion, ensuring that people with learning disabilities are valued members of society. We are a vibrant community hub, shaping a more inclusive future for everyone. Like all arts organisations, we want to change the world, we want to bring people together to create understanding, we want to decide … Continued

Seamen deaths in WWII were especially high in the Northeast: over 30,000 British merchant sailors were killed – a higher proportion than any armed force mainly due to German U-boat attacks during the Battle of the Atlantic, with ports like South Shields heavily affected.

“To see people’s faces when they see the work on it, it’s really lovely and it’s why I do what I do. That storytelling and that bringing things together. I help people to find that creative voice and give them the tools to unlock it, and that’s what’s really lovely. People might come back to … Continued

“People who never had an Art Education worked on it [..] people that went to college, been carers earlier who got married young, who worked full time jobs, you know, lots of people. A lot of elderly people worked on it. A lot of those people wanted to go to art college, they never got … Continued

“There are elements of pop culture, style references, a real tapestry of community. Hayley and Elnaz took inspiration and were making a tapestry for 2025 to be displayed alongside the original. Groups got stuck in, talking, learning new skills. The first session I largely observed, meeting families and talking to them about the tapestries and … Continued

‘I attended the sessions hosted by wonderful artists Hayley Mills-Styles and Elnaz Yazdani. Threads of Freedom was a new take on the Leeds tapestries, a project by artist Kate Russell taking place in the millennium. It was made by thousands of folks in Leeds who took part representing the different communities that made up Leeds … Continued

The hands to me recreate the care and connection of the group.

The hands span generations in the group, as well as a grandmother, mother and granddaughter.This group like this project champions intergenerational connection.

We focused on our hands together. Almost a performance, or a dance! This group was about listening, reflecting and meeting in the middle. It reflects the group, the togetherness that projects like this form.

The group talked about how the whole project and how CAST enables them to be part of this group, a group that welcomes all, where difference is embraced and experience is essential.

“The next session I recorded with participants and artists involved. Chatting to them about the work. This led to a portrait studio on the opening night. Glimpses of emotions and feelings. People would witness their contribution to a new tapestry before making their way in and expressing whatever emotion they felt.” – Joanne Coates

The first time visiting the military families was a wet and foggy cold Yorkshire day, heading away from the main military camp in the North of England to Bramble woods, what I would soon discover was a safe haven. A big polytunnel greeted me on arrival, leaves just beginning to turn brown, not yet fallen … Continued

I met Edwina and Amy who told me about the work that takes place. We had a brew and a chat, around thirty minutes later some of the families came and explained the project so far to me. How they had been joined in their craft workshops and shared stories, words, and ideas for a … Continued

Beth Exploring what freedom means today in the context of the end of the Second World War, ARC Stockton worked with local people through its creative engagement classes to shape new creative work.

Paul

Colin

Damian

Gina Alnwick Playhouse produced a series of community-led oral history films made by young people, capturing local voices reflecting on the question, “What does freedom mean to you?” These powerful stories sit at the heart of the project and will shape a weekend-long public takeover in November, created, curated, and delivered by the local community. … Continued

I watched the event and thought about how to best represent this place. I had been making images each time, portraits and reflections on how the area makes me feel. The last session we did together was writing and portraiture. Collecting stories of the project with rural arts but also how this place makes them … Continued

Edwina showed me her bees, explaining how she’d been trained as a beekeeper now. How all the families have chances to learn new skills from growing, recipes, to bee keeping, or even making cups of tea at the pavilion for families. There was instantly a feeling of these people feeling safe and belonging here. I … Continued

Three visits later I arrived for the grand opening of the public piece. It was to be unveiled, and a new film work to be shown. The piece by artist Adrian Riley, nestles into the wooded area perfectly, military words that could be political or playful sit on the wooden sign signaling new directions. Families … Continued

Alona, Kitchen Manager for Alnwick Playhouse. “[M]y photo tells a story of freedom born from loss and hope. I arrived in the United Kingdom [from Ukraine] with my sons, fleeing the sounds of war with one simple wish — to protect them from fear and give them the chance to live in peace, to get … Continued

Danny at Wolverhampton Arts Centre’s celebration event for Our Freedom: Then and Now. Tintype. Danny dressed as a warden to facilitate the celebration event. This was a test plate made during set-up with new lighting and shows some underexposure and fogging, however this photographic invisibility perhaps serves to highlight some of the untold everyday stories … Continued

Bradley at Wolverhampton Arts Centre’s celebration event for Our Freedom: Then and Now. Tintype. Bradley chose the freedom of representing himself now, rather than dressing up in the costumes provided by the RAF Museum.

Hayley at Burton Brewing Heritage Centre, Tintype. Hayley had been exploring the project theme of Freedom with the women’s art group, who meet regularly at Burton Brewhouse alongside artist Jennifer Collier.

Peter and Christine at Burton Brewhouse,Tintype. Peter and Christine attend the Carer’s Cafe at Burton Brewhouse, which often offers a moment of freedom and community support for carers and their loved ones. Artist Jennifer Collier worked with the Carer’s Cafe members to explore memories of Burton’s Brewing Heritage.

Charlie at Burton Brewhouse, Tintype. Charlie is seated in front of a mural created by her colleague Liz Blades which was commissioned to represent VE day. The design features hops, which represents the brewing heritage, and poppies mark the anniversary of VE Day. The purple poppy represents the animals who served in the war. A … Continued