Bracknell Library is delighted to present highlights from the UK-wide Our Freedom: Then and Now project with a vibrant national photography exhibition. You can visit the exhibition at Bracknell Library from Friday 27 March to Thursday 16 April.
The exhibition will be available to view online from Wednesday 18 March 2026.
About the exhibition
The exhibition brings together images from 60 locally led projects from communities across the UK, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War.
The exhibition will open at the Southbank Centre in London and then tour 18 arts centres and libraries across the UK - from Exeter to Inverness, and Ipswich to Belfast.
In total, it features 22 photographers who collaborated with communities of all ages and backgrounds, inviting people to reflect on their own histories, experiences and identities.
Visit the Our Freedom: Then and Now exhibition to see the list of participating photographers.
Bracknell 'Freedom Trees'
The exhibition will include our 'Freedom Trees' project. Working with local people, we explored the theme of freedom through the iconic trees of Bracknell Forest. ‘Freedom Trees’ are now on display across all our libraries, decorated with leaves featuring pictures and words that express what freedom means to the local community.
Our contribution now sits alongside 59 other projects to form a powerful nationwide portrait of people, place and belonging.
We are proud to see our community’s story represented within this national exhibition and to welcome audiences to experience this collective reflection on freedom — then and now.
The teams behind the project
Our Freedom: Then and Now is delivered by Future Arts Centres in partnership with Libraries Connected. It is supported using public funding by the UK Government through Arts Council England.
The exhibition is produced by Future Arts Centres, Open Eye Gallery and the Socially Engaged Photography Network.
Photo of Colchester Arts Centre by Sophie Ellen Lachowycz. You can see more of Sophie's work on Instagram. The bunting was created in community workshops with artist Clare Marsh.
