MySydney Calendar project brings homelessness into focus

If you were to capture your life in Sydney in one picture, what would it look like?

By the time you read this, 100 disposable cameras (provided courtesy of Fuji) will have been distributed to 100 people affected by homelessness as part of the 2017 MySydney Calendar project.

The artists have been invited to take pictures of their lives in Sydney, with a deliberately open theme – take pictures that are meaningful to you. The top photos are currently being compiled for exhibition and will become part of a calendar for 2017.

The winner of last year’s MySydney Calendar competition, Katherine Temple, shot the cover image entitled The Opera House behind bars. "This is a very special place for me", says Katherine, who emigrated from Vietnam 20 years ago.

"I always feel positive when I see the Harbour Bridge – it tells me to be strong." Both the Harbour Bridge and Opera House are special to Katherine who once visited the exact spot where her photograph was taken to spend time reflecting on her life and future in Sydney.

Homelessness is often overlooked, yet remains a problem, especially in the current climate of high house prices and living costs. On any given day, 1 in 200 people in Australia will be homeless, and 42 per cent of these will be aged under 25, according to Homelessness Australia. 



MySydney aims to use photography to help those experiencing homelessness unlock their often very abundant creativity, as well as provide a fun competition which can alleviate some of the stress ever present in the homeless community. One participant spoke of his experience creating an image of a man with his dog and how it helped his confidence.
"I thought there’s nothing to lose, so I approached him. I am usually anxious in these situations, but being part of the competition made me try new things," he said.

Those of us without experience may not know what to do when confronted with homelessness directly. We sometimes fear connection to people on the street who are experiencing this challenge - their world can seem so different. This is where the MySydney calendar has an impact.

"The calendar brings people closer together", says Sophie Smit, a co-founder of the project.

"Looking at the world from different perspectives helps you form a connection with the artists involved. Each month you read a unique story, both of hardships but also joys. It reminds us all to appreciate what we have and how lucky we are to have a safe place to call home".

All proceeds go back into the project, and for the first time this year MySydney Calendar intend to provide the opportunity for the artists to sell calendars at Sydney markets in the style of The Big Issue.

The MySydney 2017 Calendar is available for pre-order at $19.95 at www.mysydneycalendar.com. The top photos from this year’s competition will feature in an exhibition later in the year (more details on the website).