I’m a photographer and writer based in Manchester.
I was a print journalist for 18 years, but now use photography, text and audio to tell stories and often work on socially engaged projects. I am interested in socio-political issues such as migration, housing, representation and belonging.
Between 2011 and 2015 I collaborated with Roma families to tell visual stories about their new lives in the UK. I’ve also made independent work with members of the UK’s Traveller communities.
In 2022-23, I worked with Traveller women in a residency with Open Eye Gallery, looking at the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their lives. I’m currently working with an asylum seeker support group in Wigan, on a project with Open Eye Hub.
I am a photography tutor at Manchester Metropolitan University.
I have an MA in photojournalism and documentary photography from London College of Communication, plus qualifications in journalism and teaching. I am part of Post Photo Collective and am a cooperative member at Bankley Studios and Gallery.
Get in touch by email: info@ciaraleeming.co.uk
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Photography and representation seminar (with Joanne Coates, Amara Eno, Ciara Leeming, Maryam Wahid). Impressions Gallery, 2023.
Picturing Chester City Centre with Ciara Leeming, photographer.
Lost Voices, 2023
Ashcroft School - Jamie-Lee Wainman and Ciara Leeming, 2022.
Covid-19 case study: Ciara Leeming (Redeye Photo Network).
A spotlight on… Ciara Leeming (Open Eye Gallery).
Turn Sideways in the Wind: Romani Life in Manchester.Northern Soul.
Challenging stereotypes: Teesside’s new Roma. BBC website, 2013.
Coming at photojournalism from a different angle. BBC Viewfinder, 2010.
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2024 Amoeba, Pink, Stockport
2024 Manchester Open, HOME
2024 This Must Be The Place, Open Eye Hub, Leigh
2024 Levy Lockdown Portraits, Dark Peak Photography Festival, Glossop
2023 Got Through It, Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool
2023 Got Through It, Grosvenor Shopping Centre, Chester
2023 Picturing High Streets Chester, Grosvenor Shopping Centre, Chester
2022 Local/Lokal, Astley Cheetham Gallery, Stalybridge
2022 Manchester Open, HOME
2022 A Portrait of Levenshulme, Levenshulme Old Library, Manchester
2022 Invisible Britain - This Separated Isle, at Impressions Gallery, Ffotogallery and Streetlevel Photoworks
2022 Streets Apart, shop window exhibition on King Street, Wigan
2020 Levy Lockdown Portraits, Levenshulme Old Library, Manchester
2015 Turn Sideways in the Wind, Salford Art Gallery
2013 Stay Where There Are Songs, Side Gallery, Newcastle
2011 Hightown, Oriel Wrecsam, Wrexham
2011 Transition, Look 11 photography festival, Liverpool
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2024 Open Eye Hub residency working with asylum seeker support charity, SWAP
2023 Bolton At Home ‘Art of the Possible’ with Back Up
2023 A New Exchange - workshops at Bridge College/Together Trust, Manchester
2022 Reflections commission to work with Traveller community, Open Eye Gallery and Cheshire West and Chester Council
2022 Local/Lokal commission, Stalybridge
2022 Levenshulme Market artist residency with Laura Deane
2022 Streets Apart commission - worked with The Brick homeless charity, Wigan
2022 The Making of Us residency at Ashcroft School/Together Trust, Manchester
2022 Picturing High Streets residency with Cafe 71, commissioned by Open Eye Gallery and Historic England
2021 Open Eye Gallery R&Dmicro-commission. Funded litter pickers project
2020 InterMEDS commission from Peshkar, funded Levy Lockdown Project
2014 Salford University commission to mentor young Roma people and make Love V Style newspaper
2012 Homelands commission, Amber Collective/Side Gallery
2012 Roma Source commission to run workshops at Harehills Primary School
2011 Oriel Wrecsam commission to work in Hightown
2010 Redeye Lightbox participant
