Bideford exhibition shares refugees' stories through photography

A new exhibition has opened in North Devon, showcasing the lives and perspectives of refugees who have resettled in the local area.

A Roof and A Sky, which launched today at The Burton at Bideford, features work by five individuals supported by The Pickwell Foundation.

The project, led by socially-engaged photographer Jamie Dormer-Durling, used image-making to bridge language barriers and allow participants to document their new surroundings.

Over the course of 10 workshops, the group experimented with digital photography and alternative techniques, such as lumen prints. The resulting images offer a rare glimpse into their domestic lives and the landscapes of North Devon.

The group said the project "has helped us notice small details and to grow more confident in expressing ourselves."

The title of the exhibition refers to the two fundamental needs the participants identified for their new lives: the "roof" representing safety and sanctuary, and the "sky" symbolising the freedom to grow.

The project was run in partnership with The Pickwell Foundation, an organization that supports displaced families and champions climate action.

Carole Evans, Learning and Engagement Manager at The Burton, said it had been "brilliant" to watch the group's progression.

"It has been brilliant to watch the participants grow in confidence over the last few weeks; through photography but also in telling their story," she said. "They have created work which shares their own perspective of North Devon; a place they now call home."

The initiative is part of The Burton’s wider social practice programme, which aims to engage community members who may not typically visit traditional art galleries.

The exhibition was funded by The Foyle Foundation and facilitated by Mr. Dormer-Durling, who specialises in supporting underrepresented voices through his work with Common Waves CIC and Photo Weston.

A Roof and A Sky is open at The Burton at Bideford until 17 May. Entry is free to the public.