Photography project exhibition in Exeter

Meridian RAW, an Exeter-based social enterprise, has announced its first exhibition to celebrate completing the first year of one its projects.

Meridian RAW is a not-for-profit social enterprise that uses photography as an empowerment tool for marginalised communities and socially excluded individuals. The exhibition will take place at the Glorious Art House on Fore Street from Sunday 18th January until Friday 30th January.

It is part of the Our Lives, Our Community, Our Voice community project which uses photography as a means of engagement, empowerment and training for residents of Exeter and has been taking place at St Sidwell’s Community Centre. All the images that will be on display have been taken by the participants.

This project is managed by Olive Tree Association/Devon Grapevine, in partnership with Meridian Raw and is generously funded by The People Health Trust, whose aim is to help individuals, who may be suffering from social isolation, an opportunity to take part in a creative project, meet other people in their community and to provide a voice to those individuals who are not always heard.

The main focus of the two-year project is six comprehensive participatory photography courses, each lasting a total of 14 weeks in various locations in the city centre of Exeter.

Meridian RAW run free participatory photography workshops and training in Exeter, with a focus on the residents of St James and City Centre areas of the city.

The project provides participants with access to photographic equipment and they are encouraged, through facilitated workshops, to produce a photo-story or theme that can reflect aspect of their life, their community, an issue that affects them or a subject that they feel passionate about.

Photo: Ismat Almahmada/Devon Grapevine/Meridian Raw 2014.