CURRENT EVENTS
BELONGINGS by Caroline Sharman-Mendoza
In June, we created a short performance piece based on stories we collected from young people seeking asylum in the UK. Our aim was to help develop a greater understanding of their journeys and to share what they bring to our community. We took the performance to 4 local schools : Bury CE Primary, Lavant CE Primary, Bosham and St Joseph’s CE Junior School where our team of 3 professional actors performed to 200 children in Year 5 and 6. The response was overwhelmingly positive.
I thought that it was very sad to know that just because people believe in something different they have to leave their home, family and country. Ruby (Year 5 : St Joseph’s primary school)
'The children were given a great insight into the human stories behind what being a refugee might mean. They were hooked during the dramatisation and have spent the rest of the day talking about how lucky they are and how they didn't understand how desperate some of the refugees were. this really opened their eyes to what other people have to endure as they have no experiences, in their life, that matches this.'
(Teacher at Bosham Primary)
PAST EVENTS
Worthing 2022
Tears of Joy 2 at St Mary’s Fratton - December 2021/January 2022
An exhibition of original artwork in St Mary’s Fratton Church. We ran creative workshops in partnership with Sanctuary and Friends without Borders in Portsmouth at which asylum seekers and refugees were invited to paint wooden teardrops with us. We hanged their original artwork in a local family church for Christmas and New year.
Madin wrote: I like painting. When I’m painting I’m thinking about my country and being a child -nice idea.
Harsh Lata commented: This project’s really nice. People look very happy.
TEARS OF JOY 2
January 2021 we held a painting workshop with UASC (Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children) Foster Carer Support Group using materials paid for by our sponsor the National Lottery Community Fund.
EPIC AWARDS 2021
Epic (Exceptional People in Care) Arts Award Event at K2 Crawley- November 2021
The Voice and Participation team at West Sussex County Council invited us to help support them at their day of celebration of young people in care and care leavers. Their theme was Super heroes so we workshopped with the young people to create a giant banner full of their ideas and artwork and two wooden pop-ups of their Superheroes.
We discovered a wonderful young artist Keira who designed and created the wooden pop-up Superheroes.
400 young people and their families attended. WSCC V & P team were thrilled that we had involved the young people In creating the artworks.
Tears of Joy 1 at Chichester Cathedral- June 2021
A pop up exhibition of works created by local young asylum seekers exhibited in our brightly coloured gazebo.
We distributed free boxes of paint and brushes together with hand carved wooden teardrops to asylum seekers and refugees and invited them to paint whatever brings them joy. We curated the teardrops into our Tears of Joy exhibition at Chichester Cathedral to mark Refugee Week in 2021. Alongside the exhibition we ran two design and printmaking workshops creating colourful tote bags and tea towels.
We had 560 visitors.
Comments included: Inspiring and very humbling. A hanging garden of colour. We are happy you made it here! Colourful, inspiring, uplifting after such adversity.
Tears of Joy 1
Young Artists 2022
A creative Response to ‘The Art of Chichester’ Exhibition at The Novium Museum
Alongside THE NOVIUM MUSEUM we created a free exhibition of wonderful work by young artists. The exhibition ran from 8th October 2022 until 25th February 2023.
YAP. Exhibition
All of the young artists in this exhibition are unaccompanied underage asylum-seekers who have fled from war-torn areas and conflict zones. Owing to the incomprehensibly grueling journeys the artists have undertaken, they have disproportionately worldly stories to offer -- this is true compared to most adults and especially true compared to others who share their youth. During lockdown we have been sending our young artists boxes of paints and brushes and the wonderful art we are showing here is the result of what they have sent back to us. Thank you to all of them.💖🖌
This exhibition is foremost about raising these young artists' personal and creative confidence by showcasing the powerful and inspiring artworks they have composed, created, and photographed single-handedly during the lockdown. With the help of YAP Art, we are proud to be sharing their unique work in this online exhibition. We will divide the proceeds between the young artists and Article 12 Arts. However, critically because direct payment would affect the artist's home office staus, the artists will receive a 'Love Shopping Voucher.'
Article 12 Arts will use all additional proceeds to support the young artists featured in this exhibition and others like them in their creative endeavors by providing materials and opportunities.
All the limited edition prints and the exhibition poster are for sale on the YAP art website and will be printed to order by spectrum printing.
