Press Release
Photojournalism Hub presents I Am Your Local…, a photography exhibition in collaboration with Hikayetna at London Shepherd’s Bush Market marking Refugee Week 2025.
“I Am Your Local…” features work by photographers from migrant and refugee backgrounds, offering unique insights into lived experiences, personal perspectives, and deep connections with their subjects.
At a time when migration is often framed through the lens of crisis, “I Am Your Local…” shifts the narrative by centering the voices and visions of those with lived experience, reclaiming space and dignity through the act of visual storytelling. The exhibition also speaks to urgent contemporary issues—including border politics, identity, and belonging—offering a deeply human perspective on today’s global and local realities.
The selected photographs communicate the immense resilience of migrants and refugees as they navigate grief, isolation, language barriers, and the challenges of adapting to life in a new country.
Supported by H&F Council, “I Am Your Local…” celebrates and honours the everyday contributions of migrants and refugees in our society, while fostering meaningful connections with the wider community.
The exhibition also highlights the power of photography as a creative tool for expression, empowerment, and social change.
“I Am Your Local…” shines a light and provides a tool to share the personal stories of the many individuals who are an integral part of our society, yet are often anonymised by a broad narrative that only sees them as migrants or refugees rather than as the chef, the doctor, the teacher, the volunteer, and so forth. It provides a space to reclaim identity and celebrate the many roles’ migrants and refugees hold in our communities.” – Cinzia D’Ambrosi
“I Am Your Local…” features the photographic work of Annie Gentil-Kraatz, Evgeniya Strygina, Manuela Federl, Maria Tomas Rodrigues, Nafisa Elfatih Elmahina, Natalia Sharomova, Nuriya Aliyaskarova, Olena Vasiukevych, Richard Zubelzu, Serbest Salih, Shasheet Alaa, and Uwera Djamilla.
Photos from the exhibition (installation shots, close-ups of work on the walls, exhibition design).
THE OPENING
Photojournalism Hub in collaboration with Hikayetna, proudly celebrated the opening of I am Your Local… photography exhibition at Shepherd’s Bush Market to mark Refugee Week 2025.
The exhibition presented a beautiful fusion of photographs, video, and installation art, thoughtfully curated by Cinzia D’Ambrosi, founder and director of the Photojournalism Hub. Drawn by the reflection of how our community is inspired and supported by the many who are not originally from the UK.
Many who are part of our daily lives, yet are often left invisible; shopkeepers, teachers, drivers, entrepreneurs, doctors, nurses, and many others. presented the work of twelve talented photographers from migrant and refugee backgrounds. The selected twelve photographers, including those who fled the war in Ukraine, Syria, and photographers from a migrant background presented photography that addresses urgent contemporary issues including border politics, identity, and belonging, amplifying voices too often unheard.
The Opening event was filled with inspiring conversations, shared experiences, and a strong sense of community as visitors engaged with the photographs, video film and installation, and connected with the stories behind them.
The exhibition is kindly supported by Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
OPEN CALL
“I AM YOUR LOCAL…”
Photojournalism Hub and Hikayetna are pleased to announce an OPEN CALL for photographers, amateur photographers, visual storytellers to contribute to our upcoming exhibition, “ I Am Your Local…’ to mark a weeklong of celebrations run by H&F council for Refugee Week from 16-22 June 2025.
We would like to celebrate the invaluable contributions of migrants and refugees to our communities with a photography exhibition. This Open Call invites photographers, amateurs and visual artists, especially from the local migrant and refugee community, to submit their work responding to the theme.
We are looking for visual stories that highlight the roles refugees play in society. These stories should be about individuals who are integral to our daily lives, shopkeepers, entrepreneurs, doctors, nurses, and others who have built a home and contributed to the fabric of our society. We hope that the exhibition will serve as a platform for celebration and an opener of important conversations on the existing challenges that refugees and migrants face.
Therefore, we are seeking compelling photo stories and images that educate, expose, and celebrate the experiences of migrants and refugees, from their struggles and resilience to triumphs.
We hope that by opening this exhibitionI Am Your Local… will become Just like You by fostering deeper understanding, challenging stereotypes and highlighting the rich cultural and social impact of migration.
Who can submit:
Submissions are open only to contributors with refugee and migrant backgrounds who are based in the UK.
How to submit:
Singles or Series: Up to 6 images per submission, a short statement (max 300 words) about the work, and a short bio (max 150 words).
Name, contact details, and relevant website and social media accounts.
Images should be titled as follows: LastName_FirstName_Title.jpg
Deadline: 30th of April
Submit your images to: admin@photojournalismhub.org
Why Participate?
-Selected works will be showcased in a curated exhibition, gaining exposure to a wider audience.
-Selected works will be published on Hikayetna and Photojournalism Hub website.
-Opportunity to engage in important conversations around migration and identity.
-A chance to connect with fellow photographers and documentary storytellers.
Project manager: Sulaiman Othman sulaiman55@hotmail.co.uk
Curator: Cinzia D’Ambrosi cinzia@photojournalismhub.org
The exhibition is kindly supported by Hammersmith & Fulham Council
