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Arts Projects for Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Arts Projects for Asylum Seekers and Refugees (APASR) was formed in 2004 and constituted in May 2005 to initiate and manage arts projects for asylum seekers and refugees in Portsmouth. It was formed with individuals involved in earlier arts projects based at the Portsmouth Friendship Centre working with Asylum Seekers Activities Project (ASAP) and Pallant House Gallery.

APASR consists of:

• Faye Bradley, Arts Development Officer, Portsmouth City Council
• Den Barry, Centre Manager, Friendship Centre
• Marc Steene, Education and Outreach Officer, Pallant House Gallery, Chichester
• Sally Jones, Asylum Seekers Activities project based at the Friendship Centre in Portsmouth
• Rachel Johnston, Artist
• Louise Bristow, Artist
• Teresa Mason, Artist
• Sunny Onuh
• The project is also supported by Penpa Wama and Hawre Akoy Ali, who use the facilities and services at the Friendship Centre.

This culturally diverse group sits as a management committee guiding the project and promoting arts projects for asylum seekers and refugees in Portsmouth. The group has been meeting regularly since July 2004. The management committee, as well as being culturally diverse, includes people who have already been involved in arts projects at the Friendship Centre. Participating in the steering group provides these members with further skills development, including improved communication and language skills, an introduction to recruitment processes and managing budgets.

Identity

Identity was an arts project managed by APASR (Arts Projects for Asylum Seekers and Refugees Steering Committee), funded by the Arts Council England South East and Portsmouth City Council and supported by Pallant House Gallery.

Identity started in September 2005 and finished with a closing celebration in June 2006. The two main outcomes of the project were:

• A stone sculpture that celebrates the different users of the Portsmouth Friendship Centre. This is now sited at the entrance to the Friendship Centre on Elm Grove
• A short film that records people’s experience of taking part in the project and of living in Portsmouth

Identity’s other aims were to:

• Promote communication and language skills amongst the asylum seekers and refugees attending the workshops
• Help to develop a sustainable arts programme at the Portsmouth Friendship Centre by raising interest and securing ongoing funding
• Raise awareness of asylum seekers and the work of Portsmouth Friendship Centre
• Provide a meaningful and creative opportunity for local asylum seekers and refugees

“It’s good. Something to do, isn’t it? There is nothing to do in this country” Hadji Hossain (Afghanistan)

What Happened?

Anthony Sarireni, a Zimbabwean sculptor and Justin Edgar, a filmmaker, led over 40 workshops to more than 30 participants who had the opportunity to make their own sculptures, as well as participate in the creation of the final sculpture. They were introduced to the techniques of traditional Zimbabwean sculpture, which employs the use of semi precious stones and an exciting process that transforms the initially grey stone sculpture into a gleaming jewel-like finish.

In making the documentary the filmmaker worked with asylum seekers who assisted with filming and editing. Both the artists and the helpers noticed a marked improvement in the participants’ use of English and an increased self-confidence as the Identity project progressed.

The Sculpture

The sculpture made by the core groups of participants consists of a large piece of Serpentine stone carved to show a large head resting on its hands, surmounted by a series of heads, emblematic of the many different people who took part in the project and who use the Friendship Centre in Portsmouth.  

The Film

The film lasts for 15 minutes and documents the experience of three people involved in the project; Hadji, Sylvie and Isobel. The film follows their lives both whilst involved in the project and outside, going to their homes and following their daily lives in Portsmouth.

“It’s like being in a family” Yasin Salim (Somalia)

The Future

The core group of participants found a new fellowship in coming together to create the identity sculpture. They developed a high level of skill and interest in sculpture and in order to encourage sustainability and build oin this a range of sculpture tools has been bought. It is hoped that the group or some of its individuals will help deliver workshops and develop ongoing programme of sculpture at the Friendship Centre.

“This is great!” Sylvie Lahon Yassi (Ivory Coast)

Key Partners

• The Asylum Seekers Activities Project (ASAP) Formed in 2002 with a view to reducing the social isolation of these groups and increasing their emotional and physical well being, as well as raising their integration into the local community.
• Portsmouth Friendship Centre Opened in September 2001 with funding from the Single Regeneration Budget and Portsmouth City Council
• Pallant House Gallery is an art gallery based in Chichester that has established a high reputation for its outreach work.
• Hermitage Housing is a provider of high quality housing an support services to residents within Hampshire.

 

New Explorations

New Explorations is a music project co-ordinated by the Arts Service and delivered by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra for Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Portsmouth. During November and December 2006, Andy Baker, Sammy Hurden and Nick Flowers ran sessions which used music as a universal language to explore words, greetings and songs from the particpants own countries. Particpants were of many different nationalities such as Tibetan, Kurdish, Somalian, Sudanese and Turkish. The sessions were recorded and a CD produced of the outcomes.

New Explorations has been nominated for a Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award which are given for the finest music making in Britain. A follow up for 2007/08 is currently being planned.

For more information on arts projects for asylum seekers and refugees please contact Faye Bradley, Arts Development Officer on 023 9268 8245 or email faye.bradley@portsmouthcc.gov.uk