Ukrainians supporting new exhibition reflecting how 'Devon rose like a phoenix from the ashes'
The library-based exhibition called 'freedom, then and now’ is backed by the UK government
A new UK-Government backed exhibition opens today - with input from Ukrainians who’ve been relocated to Devon.
It's called ‘freedom, then and now’ and reflects the Second World War bombing in places like Plymouth and Exeter and the impact of wars which are still going on worldwide.
Olya Petrakova from the Devon Ukrainian Association says it'll be shown in libraries starting today in Exeter and is a story they wanted to highlight: "To explore the state that Exeter finds itself when it was bombed in 1941 and where it finds itself now - focussing on the theme of 'a phoenix rising from the ashes'."
Ms Petrakova says being invited to get involved means a lot: "This participation provides a sense of hope and support - that's support from British counterparts and British organisations and helps us to think about what will happen when Ukraine wins the war."
A spokesperson for the UK Government added: "In celebration of libraries as inclusive spaces, Barnstaple, Exeter, and Newton Abbott Libraries will invite participants in all three locations to consider the everyday sacrifices of ordinary people during World War II, often overlooked, and think about what freedom means to these communities today.
"Working with a range of community members (including a resettlement charity in Barnstaple, a mental health drop-in group in Exeter, and the Railway Studies Collection Volunteers in Newton Abbott), the heritage of VE Day 80 years on will be explored through a series of workshops.
"Each site will reflect on a unique local narrative: Barnstaple’s secret WWII unit, Newton Abbot’s crucial wartime railway links, and Exeter’s experience of the Blitz.
"By anchoring the project in the stories from each place, ‘Threads of Freedom’ will weave together national history with personal reflection and will culminate in a co-created artwork that is celebratory and unifies the three different communities across Devon."