Shine Exhibition 2025 Supported by Wimbledon's Learning Programme
- cindysasha
- Jun 27
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 19
This year, Shine Camera Club was honoured to receive support from The Wimbledon Championships Learning Programme, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Arthur Ashe’s historic win, a moment that not only changed the face of tennis but also echoed far beyond the court. Ashe was more than a champion athlete; he was a fierce advocate for justice, dignity and equality. Alongside trailblazers like Billie Jean King, who also shattered boundaries both on and off the court, Ashe’s legacy continues to inspire new generations.
In the spirit of this legacy and Wimbledon celebrating Ashe, Shine’s young photographers set out to honour the change-makers in their Shine community who uplift and support in often quiet ways.
Shine’s exhibition this year is titled ‘Community Trailblazers’, celebrating individuals who are making a meaningful difference. Each portrait is an act of recognition, capturing the unique impact of an inspiring headteacher, a passionate sustainability advocate, a skateborder/designer and more. Through their photography, the children are capturing not just faces, but the spirit and heartbeat of their community.
The portraits were taken across two meaningful locations: Canons House in Mitcham, a historic site rooted in community and heritage of Mitcham and Bond Primary School, where Shine Merton is active on. These familiar spaces provided comfort, allowing the children to focus not just on photography, but celebrate their local area.
To help bring this project to life, filmmaker Joel Kerr joined Shine Camera Club to document it as it unfolded. His film follows not just the creation of the portraits, but the creative depth, capturing the spirit of the children at work.
The impact of the project has already extended beyond the borough. The portraits were featured at The Wimbledon Qualifiers at Roehampton, giving these young photographers from Mitcham the incredible experience of seeing their work displayed in a public sport event.
This year, Shine Camera Club was proud to receive support from The Wimbledon Championships Learning Programme to create ‘Community Trailblazers’, a photography exhibition celebrating local changemakers through the eyes of children aged 8–10. The portraits, captured at Canons House and Bond Primary School and later featured at the Wimbledon Qualifiers, reflect the spirit of Merton and the young photographers were even gifted tickets to the Wimbledon Finals, making it a truly unforgettable experience.
