To mark World Homeless Day we are proudly launching our portrait project People. Project Cornwall to the world today.

 

Why is it important?

 

The project’s aim is to remind the world that whatever an individual’s circumstances we are all people and all people deserve homes. In doing so we hope to confront the stigma that stereotypes of “the homeless” and of people struggling with housing create, and the shame these can lead to. Because as we all know these things dehumanise people at a time where they most need understanding and support, and can prevent people seeking the help they need.

Find out more

 

 

The People. Project Cornwall is a collaboration between St Petrocs and the people of Cornwall brought to life by the portraits of social documentary photographer Gavan Goulder and by community arts organisation StreetDraw24. It is still unfolding but as you’ll as you’ll see on the website we have:

• Interviewed over 70 people right across Cornwall including 29 St Petrocs’ clients
• Created beautiful portrait photos of around 30 of these 
• Joined forces with Royal Cornwall Museum to hold an exhibition in November and December this year 
• Started gathering partners for an outdoor exhibition including The Eden Project, Krowji and Kresen Kernow in Redruth, Truro Cathedral and the Poly in Falmouth. 

During World Homeless Day we will be featured on Radio Cornwall and on Spotlight, and during the week we will also appear in the press regionally. We are also approaching the national media - national coverage of the project and the work we all do at St Petrocs would be fantastic. 
 
We are looking for more organisations and members of the public to become outdoor exhibition partners so if you would like to host a portrait at your home or place of work or have another idea for an exhibition partner you can email Helen and the team here or through the website contact form here.

 

Can you get involved?

 

Find out more

 

Steve Ellis, Vice President and former Chief Executive Officer of St Petrocs, said:

“We have yet to fully understand the implications of what the pandemic has brought upon us. We can forget that all the news, all the figures, all the policy decisions relate to ordinary people trying to live life.

“This project is about giving voice to people who live in the margins. It’s about not being frightened of having discussions about how to do things differently, because everyone deserves a fair chance.”

 

  

  

  

  

  

 

We are all people and all people deserve homes.

 

The Royal Cornwall Museum exhibition begins on 8 November and the outdoor exhibition will be officially launched at the annual Eden Project Sleepout which fundraises for people facing homelessness on 10 November.

Workshops exploring portraiture, power and identity will run at Royal Cornwall Museum in December for project participants and interested members of the public.

A book will be published following the exhibition, with a copy due to be archived at Kresen Kernow - Cornwall’s historical archive and the National Library, to mark the severity of the situation so many people in Cornwall find themselves caught up in right now.

 

Find out more