Picture of Health exhibition is on tour around Liverpool. The next stop is Central Library, where we are inviting people to share in the experience and to tell us about their own picture of health.
From Tuesday 1 to Monday 14 September 2026, the free exhibition explores one important question: “What does health mean to you?”.
Residents can explore photographs taken by Liverpool’s Community Champions and people from the communities they support. Visitors are also invited to add their own views to our growing picture of health!
Using disposable cameras, people captured the friends, families, places and everyday experiences that help them feel healthy, happy, safe and connected.
The photographs show that health is about much more than healthcare. It can be shaped by having people to turn to, feeling part of a community, enjoying safe and welcoming spaces, celebrating culture and faith, connecting with nature and having opportunities to thrive.
They also highlight the changes residents believe could improve health and wellbeing in their local areas.
The community-led project produced more than 650 powerful and personal photographs. Participants created captions to accompany their images, with many written in their first language alongside an English translation, enabling people to share their stories in their own words.
Councillor Harry Doyle, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Culture, said:
“The response to the first Picture of Health exhibition at the Cunard Building was fantastic, so I’m delighted that even more people will now have the chance to experience it at Central Library.
“These photographs celebrate the people, places and connections that help Liverpool residents stay well. They also give communities an opportunity to show us what needs to change in their neighbourhoods.
“I’m incredibly proud of our Community Champions and everyone who shared their experiences. I would encourage residents to visit the exhibition and see Liverpool through their eyes.”
Professor Matthew Ashton, Director of Public Health for Liverpool City Council, said:
“Our health is shaped by our everyday lives, from our homes and relationships to our income, environment and the opportunities available to us.
“Picture of Health brings these influences to life through the honest experiences of Liverpool residents. Listening to these experiences helps us better understand what supports people’s wellbeing and the barriers communities can face.
“Residents are not simply an audience for public health. They are essential partners in creating a Fairer, Healthier Liverpool, and this exhibition shows why their voices must be at the heart of our work.”
The project was supported by Liverpool City Council’s Public Health team. Before receiving their cameras, participants attended sessions to build their confidence and explore how photography could be used to tell their stories.
The exhibition is free to visit in the Atrium at Liverpool Central Library from 1 to 14 September 2026 during the library’s usual opening hours.
Planning is underway for a programme of Picture of Health roadshows and pop-up events across the city over the next 12 months, giving more residents the opportunity to engage with the initiative and access support closer to home. Further details will follow, with Community Champions helping to identify the most suitable locations across our neighbourhoods.
Picture of Health supports Liverpool’s ambition to become a Fairer, Healthier Liverpool where communities are heard, local strengths are celebrated and residents’ experiences help shape decisions and action.
