Beyond the Label: Rethinking food poverty and Identity

Explore a thought-provoking interactive exhibition examining how people experiencing poverty and food insecurity are portrayed by society - and how we represent ourselves beyond the stereotypes. Through creative displays, community artwork, personal narratives and discussion activities, visitors will be invited to challenge stereotypes and reflect on alternative ways of understanding hardship, resilience and dignity.

This interactive event explores how poverty and food insecurity have been represented over the last 100-150 years and the impact these representations have on people's lives. Drawing on historical and contemporary research, participants will discover striking continuities in the ways hardship is often portrayed, particularly for women and mothers. Through creative exhibits, reimagined product labels, personal stories and contributions from people with lived experience, visitors will be encouraged to think critically about stigma, blame and social attitudes towards poverty and its proposed solutions. The activity aims to spark conversations about fairness, dignity and how communities can challenge harmful stereotypes.

Hannah Jane Walker will be our artist/faciltator for this very special event.  In Hannah's words: "Food can be comfort, culture, memory, necessity, celebration, worry, or simply what’s for tea.  Using collage, oil pastels, marker pens and stamps, add something of yourself to our shared tablecloth. Draw, write, make a pattern or create an image. Together, we’ll build a collective portrait of our different experiences of food, and the stories that can’t always be seen from the outside."

Dr James Shepherd, University of Hertfordshire, with Dr Daniel Grey.

Hannah Jane Walker, writer, theatre maker, broadcaster, performance poet and creative facilitator

All

Anyone interested in poverty, inequality, social justice, community action, food insecurity and contemporary social issues.

Drop-in activity within the wider Food in Hard Times event running from 10am-4pm