Cafe Art is a UK-based initiative that has been connecting homeless people with the wider community through art and photography. Since 2012, they’ve hung up artwork in more than 20 cafes across London which has helped the homeless earn a living through art sales.
One of the organizations most notable projects happened back in July when they handed out 100 Fujifilm disposable cameras to homeless people in London. They also held photography training through workshops hosted by the Royal Photographic Society.
via Petapixel
Those who were given cameras were asked to capture photos of everyday life under the theme “My London.” Out of the 100 cameras, 80 were returned; and from them, over 2,500 photos were developed. A selection panel consisting of representatives from Fujifilm, Amateur Photographer magazine, the London Photo Festival, Christie’s, and Homeless Link chose 20 images which were then presented to the public.
Public voting on the finalist photos.
via Petapixel
The top 20 photos were further cut down to 12. The chosen images will be featured on Café Art’s 2016 My London calendar. Check out the 12 photos that made the cut:
Telephone Row, Lincoln’s Inn, by XO
via amateurphotographer.co.uk
Tower Bridge PICNIC, Southwark, by Cecie
via amateurphotographer.co.uk
Left Boot, East London, by Ellen Rostant
via amateurphotographer.co.uk
West End Bird, Westminster, by Zin
via amateurphotographer.co.uk
Shadow of Self, Hyde Park, by Goska Calik
via amateurphotographer.co.uk
Everything I Own or Bags of Life, Strand, by David Tovey
via My Modern Met
Colour Festival, Olympic Park, by Goska Calik
via My Modern Met
Tyre Break, Hackney, by Desmond Henry
via My Modern Met
Nature’s Tunnel or Light and the End, Stratford, by Ellen Rostant
via My Modern Met
The Artist, Whitechapel, by Michael Crosswaite
via My Modern Met
Royal Geese Sunset, Kensington Gardens, by Maciek Walorski
via My Modern Met
Past & Present, City of London, by Ioanna Zagkana
via My Modern Met
Cafe art is now running a fundraising campaign, crowdfunded on Kickstarter, to launch the 2016 My London calendar. According to the organization, proceeds from sales will be used to “either to pay for the printing of the photographs and calendar, rewarding the winning photographers, buying art materials for art groups affected by homelessness, or helping individuals attend art courses,”
Cover photo for 2016 MY LONDON calendar
By ROL
via amateurphotographer.co.uk
In the future, and through several project goals, Cafe Art aims to continue “helping people affected by homelessness to be empowered, not only through photography and art, but through connecting with the public. The calendar also has a goal of telling stories from individuals who are affected by homelessness, thereby raising awareness in the general public about issues from a personal perspective.”
“Art is seen as a major way for people to recover from the trauma of being homeless.”