Poetry exhibition launches in Manchester City Centre
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Local people experiencing homelessness have been asking big questions about life and what the future may hold, creating unique poems and artwork which is being displayed at a brand new exhibition in Manchester city centre.
‘The Long Road South to Find True North’ project, run in our Cornerstone day centre in Hulme, sees poems, paper sculptures and songs created by eighty local people who were homeless or at risk of becoming so. displayed at Manchester Central Library.
Supported using public funds by Arts Council England, the poems, which will be exhibited from now until 29 May 2026, literally leap from the page, showcasing the unique insights gained as the group imagined new life-paths and asked themselves about their hopes and aspirations for the future.
The project is the latest in a series of creative wellbeing activities run by our charity to help support people from Greater Manchester and Lancashire who are experiencing homelessness, poverty and discrimination.
The group, guided by poet Phil Davenport and artist Christine Johnson devised poems and created special paper sculptures, following a year of sessions – some during one-to-one conversations with people experiencing homelessness, with others through more formal community workshops and off-site visits to inspire thought and discussion.
Patrick O’Dowd, our director, said: “The poems and artwork created for this project are exciting, moving and extremely thought-provoking.
“Listening to people as they talk about where they have been and what their lives might hold in the future has certainly made me think about my own life differently too.
“People often think our day centres are only about providing urgent support at times of crisis but, while that’s a huge part of what we do each day, it’s not all.
“We also pride ourselves on being there for the long-term, working alongside individuals and families as they transform their own lives with dignity.
“Workshops and projects like this one help not only build social connections but also encourage people to learn new skills and share valuable experiences with each other.
“I can’t wait to hear feedback from people who visit the exhibition and would encourage as many local people as possible to head to Manchester Central Library to take a look. Thank you so much to everyone involved in the project and for creating such inspiring and thought-provoking poems and artwork.”
‘The Long Path to True North’ followed last year’s successful ‘A Place at the Table’ project, which saw people experiencing homelessness develop poster poems evoking a day in the life of the many authors.
It brought focus to the voices of Manchester people during the cost-of-living crisis and culminated in an exhibition at HOME in the city centre.
One participant said: “Can you put your sadness down on paper, out of your heart? If you really put yourself into this thing, it brings joy always.”
Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure said: “Giving a voice and the opportunity to be creative will inevitably result in fascinating output and stories as we can see from this inspiring exhibition from people who have experienced or still are experiencing homelessness.
“I really hope that people will take the time while in the library to have a look at this and appreciate that whatever the individual circumstance, everyone has a story to tell, and more often than not it is worthwhile to take the time to listen and understand.”