Markets photography project 'breaks the stigma' on trauma

A community project in Belfast is using the arts to tackle problems caused by addiction and trauma.

Organisers say they believe the work could save lives.

It is taking place close to the city centre in the area known as the Market or the Markets.

The latest initiative is a photography project entitled A People's Tapestry. People of all ages have been taking pictures of the area and then meeting together in discussion groups.

A recent rise in substance abuse and suicides led to community workers considering new ways to improve health and well-being in the area.

Áine Brady, the lead worker on the project, said that in the first few months it has already achieved results.

"It gets people talking, gets people opening up about the most painful parts of their lives," she explained.

"It breaks the stigma around issues around like trauma, mental health, substance use... and in doing that it saves lives, it builds connections and it makes for safer and happier communities all round."

It is part of a strategic partnership between Queen's University's Communities and Place programme and the Market Development Association.

One of the young people taking part is 17-year-old Lucy Flynn.

"There were a couple of sessions in which some of us were left in tears," she said.

"We did get into deep, personal experiences of things that are going on in the Market with substance abuse, with trauma, generational trauma... how things that have happened to our parents, to our grandparents, that we're still dealing with the fallout today.

"We've been able to bring the Market together, look at the bad things that are happening … but then we've been able to come back out the other side and produce something amazing."

The photographs taken by the community have been put on display in an exhibition on Royal Avenue in Belfast city centre.

Along with the images, there are phrases in large letters including 'I will not be broken'.

Christine Farmer, who participated in the project, said she hoped it would help people to want to stay in the Market area and not leave.

She said: "It's been about highlighting the positives and keeping alive the characters and the stories within the community.

"If we don't keep them alive they're going to be lost."

There are an estimated 2,500 people living in the Markets area. It is in the inner south of the city, close to St George's Market and the Gasworks.

There is a recognition that the challenges in the area are also faced by many other parts of the city.

Dr Karen McGuigan from Queen's University Belfast said the project has "empowered" people.

"Working with our partners in the programme, we hope this creative communities approach will serve not only to empower the Market community, but that the associated learning has relevance and reach within other communities who face similar place-based challenges."

The project has been funded by Arts and Humanities Research Council along with Queen's University.