Art gives meaning to emotions when words fall short. The project “Voices: Art as Refuge”, seeks to educate young people about issues such as social justice, rehabilitation, and much more through art created by those who have first-hand experience with such issues.
The Global Goals Centre has worked with 12 artists, to create the project that will be showcased at the M-Shed in Princes Wharf, with more displays and workshops planned in the future.
“We’ve been working over the past year with 12 artists, the vast majority of whom are refugees and asylum seekers,” said the education director, Manu Maunganidze.
“We want to engage the public into thinking about what people are able to offer, rather than their story of strife and war. That is the core idea of the project – allowing people to see these people’s stories through their art and what that art has contributed to Bristol and to the UK.”
There will also be art workshops for school students during the week, with up to 11 schools getting involved.
The importance of such platforms can truly be understood through Sofia, one of the artists who are part of this project, after fleeing the war in Ukraine and arriving in Bristol four months ago.
“I hope they (people visiting the exhibition) see a ghost of themselves and it helps them flourish in the future and see how beautiful the world is,” she said. “I also want to tell my story and the story of my country to the world. It is not only important to me but also important for our nation. “