I recently filmed the speeches and photographed the opening of the Hope 4 ME & Fibro Northern Ireland Craft Group Exhibition—an event that brought together advocacy, creativity, and lived experience as part of International ME & Fibromyalgia Awareness Month.
The Exhibition is now open to the public—and will continue until the end of June. This powerful and deeply moving exhibition offers a rare opportunity to step into the lived experiences of people affected by M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), Fibromyalgia, and post‑COVID M.E.
Hosted at Millennium Court in Portadown, the exhibition brings together artwork, crafts, and poetry created by people living with these often misunderstood and invisible illnesses. Each piece tells a story—not only of challenge and pain, but also of resilience, creativity, and hope.
An Exhibition That Amplifies Voices Too Often Unheard
The exhibition was officially opened at a special launch event attended by supporters, volunteers, advocates, and members of the ME and Fibromyalgia community. Among the speakers was MP Carla Lockhart, who spoke candidly about the reality facing tens of thousands of people across Northern Ireland living with these conditions.
She highlighted the ongoing barriers many face—from accessing healthcare and community support to navigating benefits systems that frequently fail to recognise the full impact of invisible illness. Her message was clear: awareness matters, and events like this exhibition play a vital role in challenging stigma and helping the wider public understand what life with ME and Fibromyalgia truly looks like.
Also speaking at the opening was Eilidh Gilmour, Chairperson of Hope 4 ME & Fibro Northern Ireland, who reflected on the collective effort behind the exhibition and the importance of creative expression for those living with chronic illness. She reminded attendees that this exhibition marks the start of Awareness Month—a time not only for reflection, but for action, understanding, and advocacy.
A photo gallery from the opening event is now available, capturing the atmosphere of the day, the people behind the exhibition, and the powerful moments shared during the speeches. We warmly encourage everyone to take time to explore the gallery and see the launch through the eyes of those who were there.
Every piece in the exhibition invites visitors to pause, reflect, and listen.
Art, Poetry and the Power of Expression
The exhibition showcases work created through the Hope for ME & Fibro NI Craft Group—an online space that has provided connection, encouragement, and creative outlets for members over the past year. Despite limited energy, fluctuating symptoms, and daily challenges, contributors have produced work that is thoughtful, expressive, and deeply personal.
Alongside the artwork, visitors can also explore Words That Hold Us, a newly launched poetry collection created by volunteers and contributors living with ME, Fibromyalgia, and long COVID. The poems offer raw insight into daily realities—fatigue, pain, loss, adaptation—but also speak powerfully of solidarity and survival.
Why Visiting Matters
ME and Fibromyalgia are still widely misunderstood. Many people live for years without diagnosis, adequate support, or validation. By visiting the exhibition, you are helping to:
- Support people living with ME, Fibromyalgia, and post‑COVID ME
- Challenge harmful stigma around invisible illness
- Amplify real voices and lived experiences
- Show solidarity during International Awareness Month
Whether you live locally or are able to share the exhibition with others, your support helps ensure these stories are seen, heard, and valued.
Visit Before the End of June
The Hope 4 ME & Fibro Northern Ireland Craft Group Exhibition runs throughout May and to the end of June. We encourage everyone who can to visit before it closes—and to spend time with both the artwork and the stories behind it.
Don’t forget to view the online photo gallery from the opening event, and please consider sharing it to help spread awareness beyond the exhibition walls.
Together, through creativity, conversation, and community, we can continue to push for recognition, research, and meaningful support for everyone affected by ME and Fibromyalgia.
Capturing the Stories Behind the Exhibition
I had the privilege of filming the speeches and photographing the opening of the Hope 4 ME & Fibro Northern Ireland Craft Group Exhibition, capturing a day that was as meaningful as it was moving. Events like this are about people first—their voices, their stories, and the space they create together—and my focus throughout the opening was to document those moments with care and respect.
From the powerful words shared by speakers to the quieter, reflective moments as guests engaged with the artwork, the opening was rich with emotion and connection. Filming the speeches allowed these messages of awareness and advocacy to live on beyond the room, while the photography aims to reflect the atmosphere of solidarity, creativity, and determination that defined the day.
Working on events centred around lived experience and community is always a reminder of how important thoughtful documentation can be. Video and photography have the ability to extend the reach of an event, allowing those who couldn’t attend—particularly individuals affected by ME and Fibromyalgia—to still feel included and represented. The photo gallery from the opening offers a visual record of the exhibition’s launch and the people who made it possible. I hope it gives a sense not just of what the space looked like, but of how it felt to be there.
Being trusted to document this event was an honour, and I’m grateful to Hope 4 ME & Fibro Northern Ireland for the opportunity to help preserve and share such an important moment during International ME & Fibromyalgia Awareness Month.
