Photo exhibition captures young people’s sense of connection

Translink, in partnership with The Princes Trust Northern Ireland today launched a Photo Exhibition displaying the images behind the connection of young people, place and opportunity.  The Exhibition will be on public display for two weeks at Translink stations commencing on Tuesday 17th August at Great Victoria Street train station.

Following the success of the recent ‘Get Started in Photography’ programme, the exhibit, named ‘Connection’, will showcase the work of eight amateur photographers as they explored the theme of connection through their urban and natural environments.

Inspired by the development of the Belfast Transport Hub project, Translink and its delivery partners, ARUP, Arcadis, Faithful & Gould and Lendlease, worked closely with The Prince’s Trust to provide and support this young person initiative. The ‘Get Started in Photography’ programme provided young people with new photography, editing, and exhibiting skills, it also encouraged the participants to re-assess and re-evaluate their surroundings and its changing nature.

Head of Belfast Transport Hub and Weavers Cross programme, Duncan McAlister said,

“We are delighted to have worked with The Princes Trust Northern Ireland and our Belfast Transport Hub delivery partners to have brought this creative opportunity to local young people.

“The standard of the photography work is exceptional, the visual accounts on display provide a fascinating insight to how young people experience their urban and natural environments and its evolving landscape.

“More and more, stations are at the heart of urban regeneration and are now driving a new wave of economic and social development. Transport Hubs are at the epicentre of growth and are increasingly seen as vibrant destinations for young people to shop, find employment, meet up and to express themselves.

“It is vitally important that we bring young people along on the journey as we develop this flagship project.  The Transport Hub has been futureproofed, not only to address the need for public transport today, but also to serve the needs of future generations and economies.  The ‘Get Started in Photography’ programme has been an excellent platform for the project to engage with young people around this urban renewal project”.

Ruth Cooper, Senior Head of Partnerships at The Prince’s Trust said,

“We’re grateful to Translink and their partners for supporting our Get Started in Photography programme. The young people who took part had a great experience learning new skills, making friends and boosting their confidence. Some have been so inspired they are now returning to education to study photography.

“It has been a difficult year for young people, the work of The Prince’s Trust to help them move forward is more vital than ever. Working together with businesses we will continue to provide young people with the skills and training opportunities they need.”