February 12th marked the launch of the brilliant Remembering What’s Forgotten’s digital exhibition! The exhibition, co-ordinated by Synergi-Leeds and Words of Colour, captures inspiring narratives of 60 people, as a creative response to 50 years of mental health and racial inequalities in Leeds.
The aim of the exhibition is to champion unheard community and lived experience narratives to tackle the overrepresentation of Black and South Asian men detained under the Mental Health Act in Leeds.
Touchstone have been privileged to be a part of this project to reimagine a more equitable mental health system. As part of our work, we facilitated a range of focus groups with Black and South Asian men and men of mixed heritage, as well as carers and community advocates, to understand their experiences of mental health and support in Leeds. We also supported men to take photographs that reimagine what a safe, more joyful, and more equitable future could look like. Our staff Arfan, Steph and Abdullah were also among the many leaders, activists, and artists who took part in interviews to share their experiences, in both personal and professional capacities.
Arfan Hanif, Touchstone Chief Executive, says:
“It was a pleasure and a privilege to be part of this wonderful exhibition. The depth and poignancy of the stories shared, in photography, filmed interviews, and other visual art forms, is truly incredible and offers a real platform to showcase the too-often unheard voices of Black and South Asian communities across Leeds. On a personal level, it is inspiring to be featured alongside so many of my peers, sharing their stories in their own way, using their own voices. And as CEO of Touchstone, I am immensely proud to be a part of an organization championing much-needed change and working to create a more just mental health system for all communities in Leeds, Yorkshire, and beyond. Person-centred, culturally-specific, and genuinely meaningful support should be available to everyone who needs it, when they need it. This exhibition is a powerful call for a future where that is possible. I urge everyone to explore this gift of a resource and take time to listen and learn from the people in your communities.”
All Touchstone’s work and interviews can be found on the digital exhibition, alongside many other brilliant artwork and features of peers, friends, partners, and colleagues across Leeds: https://exhibition.rememberingwhatsforgotten.co.uk/.
