The Fire Within

The Fire Within was created throughout spring 2024 by Our Room participants with support from artist Len Grant. Using self-portraiture and exploration of drawing and sketch-booking participants explored personal responses and reflections on what fires them up.

Our Room Manchester are a creative community for male, trans & non-binary people who sex work. Creativity is at the heart of all they do and they believe it has the power to transform people’s lives. Through playfulness, challenge and creative adventures, Our Room offer people a safe and welcoming space in which to try new things and become inspired. Their artistic work is underpinned by practical support and advocacy, working with people on the issues which challenge them.

One Participant said: “Coming here gives you space to get away from where all the trouble is. You chill out, de-stress. It stops my mind from wandering. Then I go back refreshed to the drama that is my life, ready to listen to people’s bullsh*t.”

Another Participant said: “Depression pulls me down. Lots of things trigger my depression: let downs, fall outs, so-called friends taking advantage of me.”

The Fire Within is a bold project as part of Our Room’s creative vision ‘Playing with Fire.’