The idea
We are looking to fund a week of art exhibitions, music performances, cooking demos, storytelling, workshops and community conversation centred on Lewisham as a borough of sanctuary. In difficult times finding shared space for celebration and joy is all the more important. We will work collaboratively with individual refugee artists and local arts and refugee organisations, including Refugee Café, Goldsmiths STAR and Lewisham Refugee Welcome. This project will showcase work and create paid opportunities for refugee creators and engage the local Lewisham community. Merging art and collective action we will explore what it means to be a borough of sanctuary – centering refugee voices and developing a community of care that allows for connections between different groups. We will use creativity to challenge negative narratives regarding migration and celebrate the skills, expertise and experience refugees bring and the way cultural exchange develops and enriches community life in Lewisham
What we'll deliver
- Commission 8 refugee artists to lead creative workshops/activities based on Lewisham as a Borough of Sanctuary
- Commission promotor from refugee background to ensure wide and diverse audience
- Purchase equipment for portable/sharable home recording set up for ongoing use by members in creation of online material
- Spark ongoing community conversation and partnership working
Why it's a great idea
Refugee creatives will benefit from improved access to local creative communities, financial support enabling creative activities and opportunities to reach new audiences with their work. We are building on a strong network of refugee organisations in Lewisham and the commitment of the local council in becoming a Borough of Sanctuary and welcoming an increasing number of refugees. This project will celebrate and highlight these strengths. Partner organisations will benefit from opportunities to collaborate and promote their organisation and services to the wider local community, and we envisage new opportunities for building relationships and partnership working across the borough. The wider local Lewisham community benefits from unique local creative events that support connections and reduce isolation. Recording/videoing events and sharing these online will increase accessibility, welcome new people to our work and develop networks for future collaborations.
Steps to get it done
- May: Commission artists/creatives and create a programme of activities
- May: Confirm venues and dates
- May: Purchase recording/video equipment
- May: Recruit marketing and other volunteers
- May: Commissioning a refugee creative to promote programme of activities across the borough
- May: Advertise programme of events via local community forums
- Early June: Book out events
- Early June: Liaise with artist and volunteers to prepare for events
- June: Hold week of activities over Refugee Week June 2021
- Ongoing: Recording/video equipment as ongoing resource for artists and creatives to share work and form partnerships
We would be holding events across Lewisham from Goldsmiths University to Catford Mews and Beckenham Mansion. To increase accessibility and reach we will record/video events and partner with local social media platforms to share this content. Support for portable/sharable home recording equipment will allow artists in our network to continue developing this online content.
Events/activities would include:
Traditional Ethiopian music (Masinko)
Shoulder dance classes
Storytelling
Folksong sharing
Cooking classes with Refugee Cafe
Seminars/workshops on refugee issues and exploring support that exists locally
Exhibition of paintings by refugee artists
Photography exhibition in collaboration with Lewisham Refugee Welcome
