Stories of Welcome
Stories of Welcome is a community grassroots program aimed at engaging, inspiring and empowering refugee communities located on the mid-north coast, in the Coffs Harbour region, through the power of storytelling, the discovery and development of creative voice, transferable creative skills, curiosity, and professional development training.
Facilitated by highly experienced creative producer and community arts worker, Mark Taylor, this program worked closely with Settlement Services International staff in Coffs Harbour, as well as collaborating with artists from the Sydney-based Refugee Artist Development Program. This year the program has facilitated a 3 day introductory workshop with 15 participants from refugee backgrounds. They have also held a number of cultural workshops with local First Nations Elders and artists and worked with 8 artists to develop their creative project concepts through one-on-one and group mentorships.
Upon completion of the mentorship , artistic works that were created were presented in a gallery show in Coffs Harbour, and travelled to Brisbane, Gold Coast and Newcastle as part of the Homelands Tour (see below).
CREDITS
Participants: John Akway Cham, Khairya Al-Khameri, Eve Aye Win, Nin Ngling Maung (Angelo), Basam Shamsan, Sonya Ido, Zozik Abdo, Khishkok Abdo
Facilitators: Bernard Kelly-Edwards, Adeeb Razzouk and Ali Rezvani
Project Partner: SSI
CuriousWorks Creative Producer: Mark Taylor
Stories of Welcome was supported by Create NSW project grants
Facilitated by highly experienced creative producer and community arts worker, Mark Taylor, this program worked closely with Settlement Services International staff in Coffs Harbour, as well as collaborating with artists from the Sydney-based Refugee Artist Development Program. This year the program has facilitated a 3 day introductory workshop with 15 participants from refugee backgrounds. They have also held a number of cultural workshops with local First Nations Elders and artists and worked with 8 artists to develop their creative project concepts through one-on-one and group mentorships.
Upon completion of the mentorship , artistic works that were created were presented in a gallery show in Coffs Harbour, and travelled to Brisbane, Gold Coast and Newcastle as part of the Homelands Tour (see below).
CREDITS
Participants: John Akway Cham, Khairya Al-Khameri, Eve Aye Win, Nin Ngling Maung (Angelo), Basam Shamsan, Sonya Ido, Zozik Abdo, Khishkok Abdo
Facilitators: Bernard Kelly-Edwards, Adeeb Razzouk and Ali Rezvani
Project Partner: SSI
CuriousWorks Creative Producer: Mark Taylor
Stories of Welcome was supported by Create NSW project grants