The Community Impact Awards recognise inspiring people, organisations and groups who have used arts and creative methods to have a positive impact on their community. Open Eye Gallery was a finalist in The Arts and Creativity Community Impact category.
Shortlisted organisations carry out work that is sustainable and driven by social purpose, and have a collaborative approach which means that a company has worked with people from different backgrounds to have a positive impact on society.
Since its first days OEG’s work has been a mix of art and activism. Alongside its exhibitions programme the gallery has been publishing magazines, running workshops, organising community projects, and being one of Liverpool City Region’s creative and social hubs. Only 40% of what we do is actually in the gallery. 60% is our community projects in the Liverpool City Region. We believe strongly that when we bring together the expertise of a photographer and the experience of the community we can push for social change.
We’re taking a lead on socially engaged photography nationally, which means projects where photographers and communities come together to co-author visual representations of the world around us. The process behind this work is as important as the final photographic product, and reflects multiple voices about a particular social, political, economical or environmental issue. We deliver these community projects together with the partner organisations for vulnerable groups in the areas where they don’t always have access to art galleries and creative workshops.
We believe that photography is a powerful way of bringing different communities into conversation together, and we will continue to facilitate these conversations.
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