MORE than 100 artists have contributed to an Art for Human Rights Exhibition running in Bournemouth and Christchurch.

The works – a mix of painting, photography, sculpture and installation – are on display throughout March and early April at Christchurch Priory, the Red House Museum, Bournemouth Central Library and St Peter’s Church in Bournemouth.

Cllr John Lofts, the mayor of Christchurch, opened the exhibition at the Priory. He was joined by Ted Stevens, chairman of Amnesty’s Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch group, who said that in this country, we take for granted the right to speak our minds, whereas in other countries “it can still land you in jail or worse”.

The launch at Bournemouth Library was attended by mayor Cllr Rod Cooper and the mayoress, his wife Elaine. They spoke of the need to fight for human rights in a world where violence and repression were the norm for many regimes.

The exhibition runs until April 5, followed by a show at the commercial art gallery Metropolis in Westbourne from April 7-12. Admission is free and art will be on sale, with a proportion of proceeds going to Amnesty International.