Advertisement
Art

Gallery: Homeless snappers bring London to life through lens

See the 20 best snaps after Café Art gave out 100 disposable cameras for their annual MyLondon photography project

What do you get when you let 100 rough sleepers and vulnerably housed amateur photographers loose in London? A photo exhibition with a difference.

Social enterprise Café Art gave out 100 disposable Fujifilm cameras from St Paul’s Cathedral for five days in June as part of their annual MyLondon photography project.

The fruits of that project will be on show in this week’s 227-strong photo exhibition at Spitalfields Art Market next week, demonstrating a unique view of homelessness and rough sleeping and the English capital.

During the show, there will be a chance to vote for your favourite snap out of the top-20 finalists with the winners featuring in Café Art’s 2019 MyLondon calendar, which will be sold by the participants and others affected by homelessness.

Only the top 13 snaps will make it into the 2019 calendar, which generated £35,000 for vendors last year with £4 of the £5 price going to them, after a public vote.

Paul Ryan from Cafe Art said: “The project has been very successful in helping give participants a sense of self worth. By giving them confidence they are able to go further.

Advertisement
Advertisement

“The project has inspired other projects around the world and we have connected Fujifilm with partner projects in many cities, including Budapest, Sydney, New Orleans and Toronto. This year we helped set up MyBrighton & Hove and their calendar will launch at the same time as our one in October.”

The exhibition runs from Monday 30 July to Sunday 5 August in Spitalfields Arts Market from 10am to 5pm. The market is also providing space for artists who have been homeless and they are being mentored by regular market traders next week.

Images: Cafe Art

Advertisement

Support the Big Issue

For over 30 years, the Big Issue has been committed to ending poverty in the UK. In 2024, our work is needed more than ever. Find out how you can support the Big Issue today.
Vendor martin Hawes

Recommended for you

Read All
Remembering Tim Hetherington, a fearless photojournalist and friend who died in Libya
Photojournalism

Remembering Tim Hetherington, a fearless photojournalist and friend who died in Libya

Artist with autism uses drawing to make sense of the trauma of losing his home
Christopher Hoggins Roof-less eviction art book
RENTING

Artist with autism uses drawing to make sense of the trauma of losing his home

Acclaimed artist My Dog Sighs auctions off iconic painting to 'help those struggling and lost'
Art

Acclaimed artist My Dog Sighs auctions off iconic painting to 'help those struggling and lost'

'The image says it all': The meaning behind Banksy's new London tree mural, revealed
Art

'The image says it all': The meaning behind Banksy's new London tree mural, revealed

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue