Bristol exhibition highlights youth voices against knife crime
Thousands of decorated shirts are on display for Knife Crime Awareness Week
The Empty Shirts Exhibition returns to College Green in Bristol as part of Knife Crime Awareness Week 2026, displaying over 1,000 decorated shirts created by children and young people.
Running until Thursday 21st May, the exhibition aims to shed light on the impact of violence on youth.
Inspired by the American Clothesline Project, the initiative was first adapted locally by the University of Bristol in 2025 and has since expanded.
Each shirt on display tells a unique story, reflecting the young artist's experiences, thoughts, or feelings about violence, safety, and their futures.
Councillor Christine Townsend, Chair of the Children and Young People policy committee, emphasised the significance of the exhibition.
“Every shirt represents a young person’s voice, their experiences, their hopes and their fears," Townsend said.
"They highlight the reality of youth violence and remind us that behind every statistic is a child whose safety and future matters."
The initiative is part of the council's broader efforts to engage young people in conversations around knife crime, serious youth violence, and exploitation.
Over the past year, targeted workshops have been delivered in schools and youth centres to raise awareness and build resilience.
Bristol’s Harm Outside the Home Strategy outlines the city's commitment to tackling risks faced by children and young people beyond family environments, focusing on peer groups, schools, neighbourhoods, and online spaces.
Rather than concentrating solely on individual behaviour, this strategy examines wider environments where harm can occur.
Partners are working collectively to make these places safer, recognising the influence of peer and community interactions on youth safety.
To implement this approach, agencies are improving information-sharing, identifying emerging risks, and targeting support to the most affected young people and communities.
The strategy includes quick responses to concerns, direct work with families to reduce risks, and actions to disrupt exploitation and violence.
Chris Townsend noted the collective effort underpinning Bristol's response.
“In our city, thousands of hours are given by community groups, youth workers, teachers and volunteers to support young people at home, in school and in their neighbourhoods,” Townsend explained.