WORKS by some of Britain’s most celebrated artists are being brought together as part of a community curated art exhibition at Firstsite in Colchester.

Tell me the story of all these things is the third in the Lewis Gardens gallery’s National Partners Programme run in association with Arts Council Collection.

Community organisers, artists, designers, politicians, mothers and business owners in Colchester have worked with the gallery to curate the exhibition, which examines the role of emotion and soft power in society.

The finished show features works from Turner Prize nominees Tracey Emin and Cornelia Parker as well as winner Gillian Wearing CBE.

The community curators have been meeting to discuss their lives, feelings, priorities and concerns since the unveiling of Wearing’s statue of Millicent Fawcett in Parliament Square, which Firstsite co-commissioned with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

Colchester Council’s deputy leader Julie Young was part of the curation team.

She said: “I was so delighted to get this opportunity and would never have imagined that I would co-curate an art exhibition.

“It was fun developing the themes and seeing how the group transferred those themes into their choices.

“It challenged my pre-conceived ideas throughout the whole experience.”

Visitors are encouraged to respond creatively while experiencing the show.

Sally Shaw, Firstsite director, added: “Working with this group has created an exhibition which has a really unique feel.

“As you move around the exhibition and dig into the stories behind the pieces and why they were chosen, you discover all these wonderful connections, shared experiences and feelings.”

The exhibition runs from March 28 to June 28.

Visit firstsite.uk to find out more.