A free Gala Gallery exhibition called 'In My World' explores what it's like to grow up in County Durham.

Through a series of images taken by photographer Lee Dobson, In My World looks into the everyday lives of young people growing up in south west Durham.

The free Gala Gallery exhibition runs from Saturday September 14 to Saturday November 2, 10am to 8.30pm Monday to Saturday and 2.30pm to 8.30pm on Sunday.

The free Gala Gallery exhibition features photographs set up by young people to showcase places that play a significant part in their lives. Each image is accompanied by a short piece of writing in which the young people share the stories behind the locations and the feelings they evoke.

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Among them is 'Hope within', an image taken at Escomb Primary School which was awarded first place at the 2019 International Photography Awards.

Earlier this year, photographer Lee Dobson and creative writer Dr Lucie Brownlee worked with four groups of young people from Escomb Primary School, St John's Roman Catholic School and Sixth Form Centre, King James I Academy and Auckland Youth and Community Centre. In My World is the culmination of a project led by Durham County Council's community arts team.

The young people, aged 10 to 19, were encouraged to reflect on their sense of place and to identify the settings which they feel hold the stories of their everyday lives.

Photographer Lee Dobson said: "Working with kids in the communities of County Durham, listening to the stories and what they go through day in day out, made this project so real.  

"The will to make progress in every aspect of life despite barriers was a constant narrative that connected the whole project. It not only inspired every image but created the emotion that flows through them."

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