Help needed for photgraphic exhibition

VOLUNTEERS are needed to help with a major exhibition of photographs depicting Suffolk life in the 21st Century, designed to challenge traditional stereotypes of Suffolk's people and of racism.

The aim is to collect pictures of Suffolk people of all ethnicities involved in ordinary activities of life, including the traveller, minority ethic, white and refugee communities.

Dr Sarah Shaw, education officer at the Suffolk Racial Harassment Initiative, said: "This exhibition will celebrate Suffolk's diversity and culture, but volunteers are needed to help us with this exciting project."

People can get involved either by being photographed or by contributing photos.

The exhibition will be called Faces of Suffolk and is being organised by the racial harassment initiative and the Suffolk Inter-Faith Resource.

It is being supported by Suffolk Connexions, Suffolk Constabulary and the Refugee Council.

It will go on display in May and will tour the county's seven districts, backed up by workshops and discussions, mainly aimed at young people, on the subjects of diversity and good citizenship.

The idea was prompted by the results of a survey by the Scarman Centre, Leicester University, of Suffolk's rural areas, instigated by Suffolk's racial harassment initiative and carried out for the county council, to assess racism and attitudes.

The survey found that racial harassment was a regular feature of life in rural Suffolk, particularly for Asians and half of those interviewed reported harassment in the street, one in three at school and one in four at work or in a shop.

The survey has already resulted in an action plan to tackle the problem, which was approved by the county's executive committee in December.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the exhibition should contact Gita Banerji at Suffolk Inter-Faith Resource, on 01473 343661.