The New Room in Bristol’s Broadmead will be the venue for a groundbreaking art exhibition supported by the National Lottery Community Fund. The exhibition aims to reduce the stigma experienced by some of the most disadvantaged and forgotten about people in our society and is called #seethefullpicture because that’s what it encourages people to do.

Running from 1-5 July in the café and atrium of the New Room’s state-of-the-art visitor centre, the exhibition features thought-provoking artwork by artists who have experience of facing multiple disadvantage in their journey in life so far including childhood neglect, domestic abuse, homelessness and poor mental health. It is a multi-media exhibition that includes photographic images, paintings, poetry and glass.

The exhibition is being held to mark the first ever Multiple Disadvantage Day on Wednesday 3 July which has been developed by 12 partnerships who deliver the Fulfilling Lives programme – an eight-year programme with an investment of £112 million from The National Lottery Community Fund.

One of a dozen awareness-raising projects taking place across England to support people facing some or all of these issues, the exhibition has been jointly organised by the team at the New Room and Golden Key – a partnership of 19 Bristol organisations who work together to improve services for local citizens with the most complex needs.

Hannah Mahoney, Golden Key project manager, said: “Seeing the system through the eyes of those with multiple disadvantages helps us pinpoint areas where it is not working and identify the changes services need to make for the better.

“The complexity of accessing services and trying to get help is highly evident in the artists’ experiences – this exhibition is an opportunity to share their creative work and vision.

“The good news is that with public support Multiple Disadvantage Day has the potential to instigate change, otherwise without the right care and support the reality is that people facing multiple disadvantage may die – most often prematurely.

“What’s great about holding the exhibition in the New Room – apart from the lovely natural light in the atrium – is that its city-centre location gives such easy access for a large number of Bristol’s workers, shoppers and visitors, because we are really keen to raise awareness of our campaign among as many people as possible.”

The New Room’s operations manager, Louise Wratten, said: “The team at the New Room is delighted we can provide exhibition space for these artists to share their creative work and vision.

“Art is such an engaging means of raising awareness of issues that are outside the experience of a large proportion of the population, and the fantastic works on display not only illustrate problems but also consider the assets, hopes and aspirations of some of the artists.”

The New Room, also known as John Wesley’s Chapel, is at 36 The Horsefair, Bristol, BS1 3JE. The exhibition will run from Monday 1 to Friday 5 July between 9.30am and 4pm and there is no admission charge to see the art displays.

For further information about Multiple Disadvantage Day and see 12 case studies detailing the true stories of people facing multiple disadvantage and their journey in life so far visit www.multipledisadvantageday.org, or for more information on Golden Key see www.goldenkeybristol.org.uk or the New Room see: www.newroombristol.org.uk