We are very excited to be able to announce the details for two exhibitions that have been months in the planning to be held over Refugee Week 2010, June 14th-20th.
Hurdles Home looks at issues faced by people seeking asylum in the UK and how these issues are addressed by some of the many organisations who work with them across Leeds. Ten organisations have taken part in this exhibition to highlight the transitional experiences of people seeking asylum, tracing their steps from arrival in Leeds through to their decision and its consequences. The organisations involved are:
CHIVA
Integrate
Leeds Refugee and Asylum Service
Manuel Bravo Project
Meeting Point
PAFRAS
Refugee Council
Refugee Integration and Employment Service
Refugee Education Training and Advisory Service
Solace
Children and young people from Raynville Primary School and City of Leeds High School are working over the next few weeks with members of each organisation, refugees and local artists to produce large pieces of artwork depicting the work of each organisation. These will all be displayed along with information about asylum in the UK as well as real facts about immigration and what asylum seekers are entitled to and what they are not.
This will be a unique and collaborative look at what the realities of seeking asylum in Leeds is like and how many organisations aim to make their transition into life in the UK as trauma-free as possible.
Where will the exhibition take place I hear you ask?
Armley Mills Museum from Tuesday 15th to Thursday 17th June
The Arena in the Leeds City Museum from Friday 18th to Sunday 20th June.
We are immensely grateful to all the organisations for getting involved, the children, young people and staff from City of Leeds High School and Raynville Primary School for using this opportunity to learn about something new in a different way, the Inner West Area Committee, Artforms and Refugee Council for funding the whole project, Armley Mills Museum and Leeds City Museum for allowing us to use their space, Refugee Week for their support and promotion, Rachel Slee, the artist behind the idea and making it come to fruition and to everyone else who has helped out along the way! Thank you!!
At the same time, we are also running another exhibition called ‘Far From Home’ at Swarthmore Education Centre. This will feature works by refugee artists who have been given leave to remain in the UK and are now making their contribution to the UK through art. Siamak Foroutan, Mahsa Rahbari and Dereje Kebede are the artists who have come to the UK in difficult circumstances and the art that they produce tells a thousand stories. This exhibition will be running from 14th to 20th June in the cafe area of Swarthmore.
Entry to all exhibitions is free of charge and we hope that you will be able to drop in and view both exhibitions and spread the word to everyone you know!
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