A Place at the Table

9 September –  1 December 2024

A Place at the Table is an exhibition of poster poems, bringing focus to the voices of Manchester people during the cost-of-living crisis. This exhibition is part of a programme of work showing throughout the year in a purpose-built new community exhibition space for the Inspire Gallery on the Ground Floor at HOME.
Working collaboratively with poet Phil Davenport and artist Christine Johnson, 100 Manchester people, many affected by homelessness, made poems together at Caritas Salford’s Cornerstone Day Centre. They ate and then wrote, evoking warmth, cursing the cold and dreaming on paper. These poems are acts of joy in adversity; wishes stirred into word stews. Walter, one of the project participants, 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.”A third of Manchester households are “food insecure”; nearly half of households with children are struggling to eat.* The poems are a small part of a much bigger story, of resilience against social injustice during the cost of living crisis. Across the UK, approx. 11 million adults suffer food insecurity (Trussell Trust report 2023). Artist Christine Johnson said: “I hope this project will spotlight the human experience behind the statistics, letting our creative selves speak.”

Supported using public funding by Arts Council England, the poems were developed over a year of one-to-one conversations and workshops themed around food, warmth and togetherness. Poet Phil Davenport said: “Poems see our inner life, the subtle links between us all, rather than splitting us up into haves and have-nots.”

People residing at the neighbouring Caritas Morning Star supported accommodation also took part, along with Cornerstone staff. As well as providing hot meals for those who need them, the team at Cornerstone support people affected by homelessness, finding safe accommodation, helping health and wellbeing, and many other services. Poetry has been an unexpected but valued extra service.

Project Participant Steve said: “Poems tell us the truth and the truth resonates with everyone.”

You can access a digital copy of the complete poetry collection below.

A PLACE AT THE TABLE complete poetry collection

* Statistics and insight reference from Hunger In The UK Trussell Trust Report 2023-The-Trussell-Trust-Hunger-in-the-UK-report-web-updated-10Aug23

 

Further information:
  • Opening times: Monday  – Saturday 12:00 pm – 8:00pm;  Sunday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
  • Location: HOME, 2 Tony Wilson Place Manchester M15 4FN. Tel: 0161 228 7621
  • Getting there: By Bus – 256 bus from Piccadilly Gardens stops on Medlock Street -or use the free Metroshuttle buses; By Metrolink – Deansgate-Castlefield is the nearest Metrolink stop; By Rail – nearest  stations are Deansgate and Oxford Road; By car – nearest car park is Q-Park at First Street (next door to HOME)
  • Free entry

 

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