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Hope & Sanctuary:
Freedom from Torture’s Photography Exhibition

Freedom from Torture, a UK-based charity supporting refugees and survivors of torture, will be exhibiting the shortlisted entries from their biennial photography open call themed around Hope and Sanctuary.

Freedom from Torture is a UK-based charity committed to the healing and support of survivors, offering specialised psychological therapy, counselling and creative groups, as they aid refugees and asylum seekers in their journey to recover from trauma and reconstruct their lives in the UK. 

Their biennial project, which is an open call for entrants of all ages, nationalities and technical skills, is now in its third year. This year’s themes are Hope and Sanctuary. Everyone should be able to live with hope and with a sense of sanctuary, yet today there are 110 million people who have been forcibly displaced worldwide. Each person, with their own hopes and dreams, forced to flee from violence, conflict and persecution, seeks sanctuary despite leaving their homes, communities or countries behind. The exhibition provides an opportunity to celebrate International Day of Hope on Sunday 12 July, a date established to celebrate hope as a catalyst for positive change and global resilience. 

The competition has been judged by a professional jury including Kolbassia Haoussou (MBE), head of Freedom from Torture's Survivor Empowerment Directorate; Aisha Olamide Seriki, a Nigerian-British lens-based multidisciplinary artist specialising in fine art photography; Inga Marchuk, a Ukrainian photographer based in London; and Lee Williams, creator and owner of Rapid Eye.

24 images have been selected following an open international call. The successful shortlisted entries and winning photographs will be on display in Lauderdale House, London and Undercroft Cafe, New Town Church, Edinburgh.

Find our more on the Freedom from Torture website and on the Freedom from Torture North London on Instagram.