We are Leeds Community Foundation and over the next nine weeks, we are asking the residents of Leeds to send us their photographs depicting what Leeds and their local community means to them – by entering our photography competition My Leeds in Focus.
As a charity we are celebrating ten years of supporting local community projects that deliver vital services to local people. Since 2005, we have distributed more than £25m in grants to over 3,500 community projects that are tackling the city’s most significant issues, including domestic violence, homelessness, social isolation, mental health and getting more young people into work. Essentially, we bring money in through partnerships with local businesses and people, and distribute it out to community groups through our grant giving – you can learn more on our website.
Through the photo competition we want to be able to showcase the amazing people, activities and places that are at the heart of our city, and simultaneously raise awareness of the importance of supporting and giving back to your local community.
Through our work with a variety of community groups who work creatively but have a social aim, like Pyramid of Arts (based in LS11), Dance Action Zone Leeds or DAZL (working across Leeds but based in Middleton) and Design & Print United (also based in Middleton), we’ve been able to see just how important arts and creativity can be for people to express themselves, raise aspirations or recover from addiction or mental illness. We realise that because of the diversity of the city, it’s a really special opportunity to see the Leeds that others see – to understand how others experience the city we call home.
All submitted entries to the competition will be visible on our gallery on Facebook – which you can view whether you have a Facebook account or not. Thirteen shortlisted entries will feature as part of the city’s annual multi-arts and light festival – Light Night -on Friday 9 October 2015. An independent judging panel will select one winner in each category – ‘Under 16’ and ‘16 & Over’, with prizes including a half day photography session with local professional photographers, Jonathan Turner and Peter Mitchell. The public will also be able to select their winner, by voting through the Facebook page for the photograph they want to see crowned as the ‘People’s Choice Winner 2015’ (you will need a Facebook account to be able to vote I’m afraid!).
So with all this in mind, we want to call out to you, South Leeds, and your friends, colleagues and wider Leeds networks to have a think about what image you really consider representative of your community and how you experience Leeds. Then take a photograph of it on your phone or camera, along with a short description of why you’ve chosen it, and submit it to our competition, either through our Facebook page or by email, following the steps on our website: www.leedscf.org.uk/photography-competition.
GET SNAPPY AND GET VOTING FOR YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTO!
Follow us on Twitter: @LeedsCommFound hashtag: #Leedsinfocus
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/Leedscf
Image kindly provided by local amateur photographer, Helen Maycock.
This post was written by Gail Lewis using our Create an article for South Leeds Life page.
