In the most well attended event in the Royal Photographic Society and Martin Parr Foundation‘s history, hundreds flocked to Bristol for the launch of The Complete Collection of Photography and Poetry from We Feed The UK.
The galleries overflowed with those gathered to celebrate this incredible assembly of work in its final form. Images from each of the ten award-winning photographers commissioned for the campaign were brought to life by live poetry from four Hot Poets.
“I genuinely never thought I could be so moved by poetry. It completely exceeded my expectations.”
Kate Elliott-Rudder, Senior Project Officer, Centre for Sustainable Energy
For the past fourteen months, regional exhibitions have been rolling out in succession around the UK. Each has celebrated a local story captured by a local photographer and poet, inspiring audiences with relatable examples of agroecology in their area. The project is now culminating in this memorable group exhibition at The Royal Photographic Society, which marks the transition of We Feed The UK onto the national stage. The now-unified body of work signifies a new phase of We Feed The UK, which we are excited to share over the coming months.
Having already reached over 200,000 direct beneficiaries at events since its inception, and 53 million through media and online coverage, we are blown away by the impact of this initiative. The launch in Bristol reaffirmed our belief in the arts’ capacity to communicate the benefits of agroecology to new audiences, and on a deep level.
Hear from a few of the exhibition’s attendees below…
“The photos make me feel a little emotional. More than I was expecting.”
Kate, exhibition attendee
“The arts can play such a big role in how people perceive the battle against climate change.”
Dan, exhibition attendee
“Primary industries are incredibly important to the ecosystems and cultural systems we are all involved in.”
Katie, exhibition attendee
“Beautiful places make you feel protective of them and want to save them or further them.”
Sophie, exhibition attendee
“The earth is alive and we constantly need reminders of that fact.”
Adam and Alex, exhibition attendees
The evening also celebrated the launch of our ninth and tenth stories of regenerative farming and fishing. Magnum photographer Lúa Ribeira’s series Bread Making at Gothelney Farm tells of farmer Fred Price and baker Rosy Benson. Fred transitioned his inherited farm from intensive rows of identical plants to a sea of diverse population wheats, which Rosy mills, bakes, and sells on-site.
Opposite The Royal Photographic Society, in the Martin Parr Foundation’s gallery, photographer Jon Tonks is exhibiting his new series, A Fish Called Julie, commissioned to delve into the murky world of sustainable fishing. Over 18 months, Jon visited small-scale fisherfolk working in waters off Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, capturing their relationship with life above and below the waves.
The next big moment for this project is our Open House event on 10 May: a festival of events served up from collaborators across We Feed The UK. Expect lively panel discussions featuring the storytellers and protagonists from the campaign alongside big names from the agroecology world, including the likes of Dan Saladino, Debal Deb, Chris Smaje, Helen Keys, and Caroline Bennett. Plus, enjoy exclusive gallery tours, poetry, and delicious food fayre throughout the day.
We hope to see you there!
