Refugee children who are supported by local charities Julian House and Bath Welcomes Refugees have created an art display to promote Refugee week.
Refugee Week’s vision is for refugees and asylum seekers to be able to live safely within inclusive and welcoming communities. The theme of this year’s Refugee Week is ‘Healing’ and seeks to be a celebration of community, mutual care, and the human ability to start again. The organisers say that healing means recovering from a painful experience or situation, so that we can continue to live and no-one understands this better than those who have lost their homes and had to build new lives from scratch.
On the 13th of June as part of Refugee week the Refugee resettlement team at Julian House hosted an art workshop at Elim Church for the children and young people the charity works with as well as other refugees and asylum seekers living in Bath and surrounding areas. The children and young adults painted, collaged, drew and stencilled on giant paper leaves. These drawings have been made into a tree and put on display in a window in central Bath.
Sophie from the Julian House Refugee team said “The display of art is a celebration of all of the refugee children and their families living in B&NES. Our hope is that as well as enjoying the creativity and talent within each piece of work those viewing the display will reflect on the ways we can learn from one another and build a brighter and fairer future. The past few years have presented many challenges and brought to light the power that community and compassion brings.”
The display is available to view in the window of 12 Old Bond Street and will be there until the 27th June. The charities are grateful to St John’s Foundation for providing the space.
