We are thrilled to announce an extraordinary exhibition that invites you to explore the captivating stories and vibrant portraits of ten individuals seeking asylum right here in Calderdale. 📸✨

“Circles of Compassion,” a project brought to life by the talented local photographer Gerard Liston in conjunction with St. Augustine’s Centre, beautifully captures the essence of their journeys and the strength of the human spirit.

Starting from 19th June, this thought-provoking exhibition will take you on a deeply immersive experience that intertwines powerful photography with poignant narratives. Through Liston’s lens, you will witness the resilience, hope, and dreams of these remarkable individuals who have sought refuge in our community.

Ten people currently seeking asylum who are supported by St Augustine’s Centre collaborated with Gerard over recent months to create words and images for the exhibition and virtual photobook  online at: https://issuu.com/gerard-liston/docs/compassion

Participants represent countries around the globe, from Eritrea to Iran and from Syria to El Salvador. An initial discussion with each person explored aspects of their lives that bring them a sense of hope and joy. This provided the brief for gathering a collection of images – some taken on a high-quality camera and some gathered from mobile phones – from which two were selected for the portfolio.

The theme of Refugee Week 2023 is ‘Compassion’, which has been picked up in the title of the photography project, as Gerard Liston explains: “‘Circles of Compassion’ is a concept that urges us to extend empathy beyond our immediate circle of family, friends, and community. The backdrop for this work has been an unfolding series of tragedies in the English Channel; tightening of legislation around migration routes into the UK; racist protests about the location of hotel accommodation and reductive rhetoric from politicians claiming that they will ‘Stop the Boats’.”

He adds, “In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and with war raging on the edge of Europe, reducing the flow of migrants might seem like a rational policy. But the words and images presented by this project provide a glimpse into the lives of ten people – ten migrants – who, for many UK residents, live outside their circles of compassion. Yet, their hopes and joys sound remarkably like our own. My aim is to invite an open-minded response to open-hearted sharing by ten refugees and those viewing both the online photobook and the exhibition are invited to share how this project has affected their own sense of empathy and care.”

“Circles of Compassion” will be shared during Refugee Week (19-25 June) at the Temperance Café in the town centre. We encourage you to bring friends, family, and anyone who may find solace, inspiration, and appreciation in these heartfelt stories.