A powerful new photography project shining a light on stories of community, migration and home is launching in Knowsley on 19 June as part of the Liverpool City Region’s Photo Here! project.
The project sees established groups, including refugees and asylum seekers, members of the LGBTQI+ community and D/deaf and BSL users, tell their stories and the stories of the areas they live in with the help of professional ‘socially engaged photographers in residence’.
‘Communities of Welcome’ is a collaboration between Knowsley Council and Open Eye Gallery and has been led by community artist & socially engaged photographer Anoosh Ariamehr, who lives in Stockbridge Village. Since January, Anoosh has been working with a group of Knowsley residents to develop their skills as photographers and artists via workshops, gallery visits and discussion.
Over several months, the group have used photography to explore their local area, encourage each other and to highlight their own lived experiences of locality and displacement.
Following the completion of the workshop programme, Anoosh has been supporting the group to create an exhibition of photographs that showcases what ‘community’ and ‘home’ in Knowsley means to them.
The exhibition will be on display outside of the Kirkby Centre from 19 June – 29 August, giving local residents and visitors the opportunity to encounter these stories in the places where they live, work and gather.
The Knowsley residents that have participated in the project are Angela Donnelly, Nataliia Dzhemailova, Sue Emery, Anastasiia Holovach, Andrew Johnson, Semanur Kelesoglu and Jim Stuart.
Anoosh Ariamehr, socially engaged photographer in residence for Knowsley said:
“This project has been a chance to share stories that are often unheard. It’s been a privilege to work with such a committed core group of Knowsley residents.”
At the heart of the project is the simple but powerful idea that Knowsley is a place where people from all backgrounds can find connection and community.”
Cllr Shelley Powell, Knowsley Council’s Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods, said:
“Knowsley is proud to be a borough that welcomes people from all over the world. This project reflects the warmth, resilience and humanity of our communities, from those who have lived here all their lives to our newly arrived communities. Through powerful imagery and storytelling, we’re able to celebrate the voices and experiences that help shape the diverse and caring place Knowsley continues to be.”
Sarah Fisher, Executive Director of Open Eye Gallery, said:
“Open Eye Gallery believes photography has the power to connect people and change perceptions. Anoosh’s work within Knowsley has been a deeply meaningful process, and we’re proud to support a project that reflects the real strength found in everyday acts of welcome, inclusion and solidarity.”
As well as the exhibition at Kirkby Gallery,Anoosh Ariamehr and the Communities of Welcome project will be part of this year’s Knowsley Flower Show on Sunday 3 August at Court Hey Park.
Open Eye Gallery is launching the 2025 Liverpool City Region Photography Awards with ‘Photo Here’ participants and the wider public invited to enter ahead of the awards in November. More information can be found at https://openeye.org.uk/liverpool-city-region-photo-awards-2025/.
Communities of Welcome is at the Kirkby Centre, Norwich Way, Kirkby, L32 8XY from Thursday 19 June to Tuesday 29 August.
