Belfast Exposed<\/em><\/strong><\/a>, Northern Ireland\u2019s leading photographic gallery, was established in 1983 by a group of local Belfast photographers frustrated with how media coverage of The Troubles failed to capture community experiences of the conflict. From the outset, they actively worked with community groups across the sectarian divide, running photography workshops, training, and projects. Decades later, their community engagement projects continue to thrive.<\/p>\nHaving worked on hundreds of projects over more than 35 years with such a diverse range of people, from youth groups, refugees, prisoners, and pensioners to cross-community organisations and rural communities, Belfast Exposed\u2019s<\/em> community work provides a unique insight into community-engaged photographic practices over time as Northern Ireland has emerged from The Troubles.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|-5px|auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/imagingpeace.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/tracing.jpg” title_text=”tracing” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/imagingpeace.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Joanne-Wave-Trauma.jpg” title_text=”Joanne-Wave-Trauma” show_in_lightbox=”on” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”94%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”4px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Actor|–et_global_body_font_weight|||||||” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_5_font=”Antic Slab|–et_global_heading_font_weight|||||||” header_5_font_size=”15px” custom_margin=”2px||||false|false” custom_padding=”2px|0px||0px||false” custom_padding_tablet=”2px|58px||259px||false” custom_padding_phone=”|||31px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Creative image-making with archival images. Work made by community groups working with Belfast Exposed facilitators using collage and tracing techniques, where participants trace archive images, colour them, and then merge them with other images.
\u00a9 Belfast Exposed participants<\/strong><\/h5>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”–et_global_body_font|300|||||||” text_font_size=”22px” text_line_height=”1.2em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, the arts have been seen as a key vehicle for building peace in Northern Ireland by diverting attention towards social re-building, enabling healing and truth-telling and facilitating community reconciliation. With Mervyn Smyth at the helm of their community-based work for three decades, Belfast Exposed<\/em> have been a central actor in Northern Ireland\u2019s arts and peacebuilding scene, building extended relationships with community partners and a deep knowledge of how photography can be harnessed and adapted to meet the needs of communities recovering and repairing from conflict.<\/p>\nIn recent years, Belfast Exposed\u2019s<\/em> community photography work has focused on bespoke therapeutic photography projects for individuals and groups experiencing mental health issues. Studies reveal high rates of conflict-related and inter-generational trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, mental illness, suicide, and substance disorders in Northern Ireland. Previously considered a taboo subject, many who had not been offered mental health support are now seeking help for long-standing conflict-related trauma and intergenerational mental health issues. Rising demand for services was made more acute by the COVID pandemic.\u00a0<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”4px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/imagingpeace.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Bobby-Final-Portrait.jpg” title_text=”Bobby-Final-Portrait” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||17px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Actor|–et_global_body_font_weight|||||||” text_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Antic Slab|–et_global_heading_font_weight|||||||” header_5_text_align=”center” header_5_font_size=”15px” header_5_line_height=”1.2em” custom_margin=”2px||||false|false” custom_padding=”2px|58px||0px||false” custom_padding_tablet=”2px|58px||259px||false” custom_padding_phone=”|||31px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Self-portrait
\u00a9 Bobby \/ Belfast Exposed<\/strong><\/h5>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”13px||7px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”–et_global_body_font|300|||||||” text_font_size=”22px” text_line_height=”1.2em” custom_padding=”||11px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
In the project Open Eyes, Belfast Exposed<\/em> has been working with Northern Ireland\u2019s Northern Health and Social Care Trust, running photography workshops with people in primary care settings such as mental health institutions and those being supported in the community. Smyth has developed a \u2018distract and disrupt\u2019 technique where photography is used to divert people\u2019s focus from their mental health issues, to shift mindsets, to express what they feel and to rebuild their mental well-being. He is clear to differentiate what they do from formal therapy. Workshops involve photo walks, photo outings, creative portraiture, collage, and other forms of creative image-making.\u00a0<\/p>\nWorkshops draw extensively on their Belfast Exposed\u2019s<\/em> archive of over 1 million images, taken by Belfast Exposed<\/em> photographers and from their community projects, to create opportunities for people to reflect on their pasts and re-imagine their futures. Archival images are used to spark conversations, and, in some projects,<\/span> participants work to repurpose them, intervening in the images using collage, photo-editing software, text, layering them with artwork, tracing, and writing.<\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”4px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/imagingpeace.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Scott-sunset.jpg” title_text=”Scott-sunset” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”37px||7px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Actor|–et_global_body_font_weight|||||||” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_5_font=”Antic Slab|–et_global_heading_font_weight|||||||” header_5_font_size=”15px” custom_margin=”2px||||false|false” custom_padding=”2px|58px||259px||false” custom_padding_tablet=”2px|58px||259px||false” custom_padding_phone=”|||31px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Sunset<\/strong>
\u00a9 Scott \/ Belfast Exposed<\/strong><\/h5>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#EBEFE6″ custom_margin=”1px|auto|61px|auto||” custom_padding=”91px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Mervyn Smyth” company_name=”Belfast Exposed Community Engagement Manager” font_icon=”||fa||900″ use_icon_font_size=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” body_font_size=”31px” body_line_height=”1.2em” author_font_size=”24px” author_line_height=”1.2em” custom_padding=”|0px||4px||” border_width_all=”0px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\u2018The process of producing the images in the first place is important. The images need to be ones that mean something to them\u2014that they can take pride in and meaning from. They are taken to locations they have chosen, or they design somewhere in their heads where they would like to go. They create the images in their minds, and if they ask to go to the pyramids, we use Photoshop, and we bring the pyramids to their community. We did that with some lads the other day; we brought the Pyramids to Polegrass’.<\/em><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”4px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/imagingpeace.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/disrupt.jpg” title_text=”disrupt” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px||7px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Actor|–et_global_body_font_weight|||||||” text_line_height=”1.8em” header_5_font=”Antic Slab|–et_global_heading_font_weight|||||||” header_5_font_size=”15px” custom_margin=”2px||||false|false” custom_padding=”2px|3px||0px||false” custom_padding_tablet=”2px|58px||259px||false” custom_padding_phone=”|||31px|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Disrupt<\/strong>
An image taken from a Belfast Exposed participant\u2019s \u2018disruption\u2019 image portfolio. A folder of images that participants take and curate of images that make them feel good, happy, or proud.
\u00a9 Belfast Exposed<\/strong><\/h5>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_menu menu_id=”10″ menu_style=”centered” active_link_color=”#E09900″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” menu_font=”|||on|||||” menu_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}” menu_font_size__hover_enabled=”off|desktop”][\/et_pb_menu][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PROJECTS | ENGLISH\u00a0 |\u00a0 ESPA\u00d1OL\u00a0 |\u00a0 FRAN\u00c7AISBelfast ExposedCountry: Northern Ireland Participants: Various community groups across Belfast and Northern Ireland WebsiteJim was a former soldier during the decades of violent conflict in Northern Ireland known as \u2018The Troubles\u2019. Suffering with PTSD, he had a breakdown and worked with Belfast Exposed doing therapeutic photography as part of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-104","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/imagingpeace.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/imagingpeace.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/imagingpeace.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imagingpeace.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imagingpeace.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/imagingpeace.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/104\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1885,"href":"https:\/\/imagingpeace.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/104\/revisions\/1885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/imagingpeace.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}