National Portrait Exhibition On Carers To Open In Inverness

An exhibition of carers’ portraits which was first launched at The Scottish Parliament will open at Inverness Museum and Gallery from Saturday 21 March 2009.
 
The “24 hour” exhibition has been produced by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and highlights 24 portraits of carers sitting on the sofa in their own home with the person they care for. In some portraits it is impossible to tell who is the carer and who is the cared for person, in others, it is very obvious.
 
The carers portrayed come from all over Scotland and every portrait has a brief explanation alongside it using the carer’s own words to explain their caring role.
 
The portraits were taken by Hannah Hills, a rising young star in portrait photography, one of whose portraits was exhibited in the National Portrait Gallery in 2005.
 
The portraits have been reproduced in an art quality catalogue, which will accompany the exhibition as it tours Scotland. The catalogue includes a foreword by HRH The Princess Royal, President of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, who says: ‘Carers need recognition so that they can access the support which will enable them to continue to care without compromising their own health and wellbeing.’
 
This is Hannah Hills’ first solo exhibition. She says: ‘Since undertaking this project I have met some amazing people.  It was really very humbling to see the way that they care for their loved ones with no complaints, often giving up jobs and a lot of their independence to do so.
 
‘One of the enduring memories from visiting everyone is the laughter and great sense of humour, often in very difficult circumstances. It was a privilege to be involved in this project and to see the work of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers at first hand.’
 
Florence Burke, Director of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in Scotland, says: ‘We want to make people aware of the fact that carers exist and that the unpaid work they carry out at home is vital to our society. A carer could be someone you meet on the bus, it could be someone you work with, it could be someone who lives in your street or it could be the person standing next to you. It could be you.’
 
In Scotland The Princess Royal Trust for Carers currently helps almost 50,000 carers, including 3,500 young carers, cope by giving information, support and advice through its network of 29 Carers’ Centres, 49 young carers services and interactive websites.
 
ENDS