Picturing Food Justice

Kelly O’Brien, Universal Routes

Picturing Food Justice is a participatory photography project led by artist Kelly O’Brien, that addresses issues around food justice, particularly in Nottingham’s NG7 postcode area. The project is supported through a collaboration between Off Centre Photography Festival, Himmah and Primary.

Food justice is a holistic way to view the broader structures which affect people’s access to the food system. It begins on the basis that healthy food as a human right and the need to address the structural barriers to that right. By thinking about food justice, we not only aim to improve access to healthy food for all, but we also examine the structural roots of these disparities; racial and economic justice are therefore important interconnected issues to address. 

Despite the growing presence of food injustice across the country, the visual representation of these issues has been slow. This project will work with local people who may have experienced food injustice to express their voices, experiences, and ideas visually.

Through a series of workshops led by photographer Kelly O’Brien, participants will learn photography skills, to produce visual images of their ideas. They will have the opportunity to show their work as part of the Off Centre Photography Festival.

About Off Centre

The Nottingham Centre for Photography and Social Engagement is a social enterprise working across the Midlands. We provide accessible facilities and support for photographers, and a platform for individuals and communities to develop creative photographic work and engage with one another. We run an annual Photography Festival across 10 different venues in Nottingham, showcasing work by over 100 different photographers from a range of different backgrounds, photography genres and exploring a broad range of different theme. 

About Himmah 

Himmah is a grass roots community-based initiative tackling poverty, mental wellbeing, racism and social exclusion in Nottingham. We do this through direct service provision, campaigning, arts, and education work always in collaboration with individuals, communities and organisations.

This project is part of Nourishment: A cyclical programme and is supported by Real Creative Futures.
Real Creative Futures – Digital, part of the Big House programme is part of the Creative and Digital Industries D2N2 Consortium for Increased SME Competitiveness. Providing support for business growth to the creative and digital industries sector. It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund

Photo credits: Richard Afolabi, Sara Aziz Yar, Emily Giddings, Simon Kidane, Filimon Tkabo and John Wheat.