New Knaresborough exhibition gives a 'human face' to stories of refugees who have settled in North Yorkshire
One of the organisers of a new exhibition in Knaresborough devoted to the lives of refugees in North Yorkshire says she was “often moved to tears” by hearing their experiences first-hand.
Called Under One Sky, the new photographic exhibition will bring together photographic portraits and first-hand experiences of refugees who have legally settled in North Yorkshire.
The last decade has seen a total of 2,372 people settled in the county fleeing war in Ukraine, Afghanistan and, to a lesser extent, Syria.
The aim of Under One Sky is to give a human face to stories that are too often encountered only through headlines.
The idea for this groundbreaking project began with a conversation over coffee in a café in Pateley Bridge.
While listening to one refugee talk about their experiences, project co-ordinators Sue Eland and Sue Parsons began to think about how others might also be given the opportunity to share their stories.
What began as a conversation developed into a 12-month project involving 29 refugees of different nationalities living in Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Nidderdale.
Photographer Laura Mate and graphic designer Anna Cleary joined the project which saw each refugee photographed and interviewed using the same set of questions, sharing something of the journeys they have made, their experiences of settling in North Yorkshire and their hopes for the future.
Sue Eland, Project Co-ordinator and Refugee Mentor, said: "During the interviews we were often moved to tears.
"It was truly humbling that these brave people felt they could trust us with their stories.
“We hope that anyone visiting the exhibition will go away with a better understanding of what it is like to have no choice but to suddenly leave your family, your home and your country, and make a new life in a very different culture.
"For most of us, we will never be faced with a situation where we have to do this.”
Under One Sky will take place at Gracious Street Methodist Church, Knaresborough, from October 30 to November 4, open 10am to 3pm daily with free entry.
The project has been supported by North Yorkshire Re Settlement Scheme Grant/SWIFT, North Yorkshire Council, Pickard Event Systems, Harrogate and Knaresborough District of Sanctuary, Ripon District of Sanctuary and Knaresborough Town Council.