An event marking the conclusion of the interactive exhibition Our Freedom: Then and Now brought together local artists, community groups and residents to reflect on the meaning of freedom across generations.
Part of the UK cultural commemorations marking the end of World War II, the initiative—led by North Lanarkshire Libraries within the council’s Active & Creative Communities team—shared local people’s stories and memories of 1945 while considering what freedom means today.
The project draws on partnerships with Community Learning & Development, Social Work, Creative Arts, schools and the Lanarkshire Armed Forces Community.
Those attending included artists involved in the project, such as Guy Wistuba, who created drone footage and video content for the exhibition, participants in the creative workshops, and coordinators representing the national project partner Future Arts Centres.
Provost Kenneth Duffy said: “This impressive exhibition shows the importance of connecting communities, revisiting history and exploring what freedom means in today’s world.”
Russell Brown, Community Libraries Manager, added: “The use of the immersive room in Motherwell Library for this interactive exhibition exemplified its role in telling the story of local communities in a new and innovative way.”