26.10.2010
On Thursday 28 October the Parliament's 'moving Stories' exhibition - exploring ten people’s experiences of interacting with the Scottish Parliament - will open in Dumfries Museum.
Speaking ahead of the exhibition opening, the Parliament’s Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson MSP said:
“It’s wonderful that more than 100,000 people have already had the opportunity to see the Moving Stories exhibition as it has toured around Scotland.
“This updated version of the exhibition shows how ordinary members of the public have worked with their Parliament in raising issues and bringing about positive change.
“There has been a fantastic public response to this exhibition so far and I hope our run in Dumfries will inspire even more people to use the Scottish Parliament as a positive force for change in their lives and communities.”
Moving Stories will be on show at Dumfries Museum until 30 November when it will move to Prestwick Airport.
Background
The ten people featured in the exhibition, and their stories are:
- Bob Reid, South of Scotland, submitted a petition to establish Off-Road Motorbike Facilities.
“I am a great believer that there is a key to every young person, no matter what their problems are… give them a new challenge, something they can relate to, something they can belong to.
- Tina McGeever, Highlands and Islands, submitted an e petition on ability to access cancer drugs on NHS.
“We decided that we were going to start a campaign, although the word campaign didn’t really come into it at the time. Michael wrote a letter and I fired it off to everyone on my email and asked them to send it to their MSPs, so that was the start.”
- Walter Baxter, North East Scotland, organised a petition objecting to the merging of specialist care units for people suffering a brain haemorrhage.
“Having a brain injury is a very difficult scenario to go through, not only for yourself, but for the people who are looking after you. There is very little aftercare for people with brain injuries.”
- John Muir, West of Scotland, submitted a petition on tackling knife crime following the death of his son.
“I think that the public in Greenock and surrounding areas did recognise that the situation that Damian found himself in could have been their son or their daughter…something’s got to change.”
- Reverend Iain MacDonald, Highlands and Islands, led Time for Reflection in the Scottish Parliament.
“People here are thoroughly engaged with community, with social justice issues. A real community is defined by how it looks after its most needy.”
- Gemma Mackintosh, Highlands and Islands, campaigns for improved support for those living in Scotland with a visual impairment.
“I am one of the examples of many people with additional needs who has been failed by the education system. I want to change the system and how they deal with children with visual impairments.”
- John Macleod, Lothian, lodged two petitions on Gaelic matters and is heavily involved in Gaelic and Gaelic cultural matters in Edinburgh.
“What was behind the campaign was the need for special status for the language to enable sustainable developments for the future.
- Amal Azzudin, Glasgow, campaigned against the practice of dawn raids on failed asylum seekers.
“What the campaign has achieved more than anything is raising awareness…that was all we could do.”
- Claire Ewing, Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament.
“Politics is everywhere and everything but young people don’t see that…
if you want it then you’ll fight for it…you need to believe in yourself and believe in what you’re doing.”
- Rebecca Brown, Central Scotland, carried out a work placement at her local MSP constituency office.
“ The realisation that politics is everything. You don’t really have an option…you really should be involved, it’s going to affect you anyway.”
The photography in the exhibition is by the Scottish Parliament’s official photographers and the interviews were carried out by freelance oral historian Catherine O’Byrne. The exhibition will be in Dumfries until 30 November, before continuing on its journey around community venues throughout Scotland.
Other confirmed venues so far for the ‘Moving Stories’ exhibition tour programme in 2010 -11:
* Prestwick Airport - 9 December 2010 - 17 March 2011
You can now get in touch with the Parliament by text message. Our interactive service enables you to get the name of your MSP by sending your postcode, lets you ask questions about the Parliament and its work, and enables you to request a selection of free leaflets. The number to take advantage of is 07786 209888. Texts are charged at standard network rates. More details can be found on our Text Service page