There are 110 million people around the world who have been forcibly displaced as a result of persecution, conflict, violence, human rights violations or events seriously disturbing public order, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Of these, 6.1 million are asylum seekers (having applied for asylum awaiting decision as to whether they will be granted refugee status) and 36.4 million are living as refugees. Some 404,000 refugees returned to their countries of origin during the first half of 2023 while 59,500 were resettled. From the war in Ukraine to ongoing conflict in Syria, the Middle East, to climate shocks and economic turmoil in East Africa and Latin America—global instability is increasing.
To address the trauma of displacement, torture, prevent retraumatisation on entry into even a safe but strange new country, a remarkable range of organisations offer care and rehabilitative support. Working in temporary hotel accommodation, day centres, detention camps, and with trauma-informed training, artists and arts therapists are encouraging refugees to connect, express themselves through participatory arts so as to preserve their heritage and gradually rebuild their brain health and a new sense of belonging.
Who for?
If you are involved with arts practice for refugees, or if you teach, study or work in the fields neuroscience, psychology, psychiatry involving arts to preserve brain health, and social prescribing to enable people to access inspirational cultural and creative opportunities to preserve their brain health, identity and confidence among their new communities.
A G E N D A (Online: 14.00 – 16.30 BST)
HOST: Veronica Franklin Gould, President, Arts 4 Dementia.
CHAIR : Alexandra Coulter, Director, National Centre for Creative Health.
Christopher Bailey, Arts and Health Lead, World Health Organisation.
Professor Cornelius Katona Medical and Research Director of the Helen Bamber Foundation. Royal College of Psychiatrists lead on Refugee and Asylum Mental Health.
Almir Koldzic, Director and Co-Founder, Counterpoints Arts ‘Creatively Minded and Refugees’
PANEL Chair: Professor Cornelius Katona
- Daniela Nofal, Counterpoints Arts – Network
- Bobby Lloyd, Art Refuge, Community Table
- Sheila Hayman, Freedom from Torture, ‘Write to Life’
PANEL Chair: Professor Rachel Tribe, Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of East London
- Sara Green, Founder & Executive Director, Art for Refugees in Transition, New York.
- Dr Hanan Khalil, Associate Professor of Neurological Rehabilitation at Qatar University. Physical therapy for refugees in Qatar
- Lis Murphy, Creative Director and Ramsey Janini, Creative Producer, Music Action International, Crisis Choirs led by refugee musicians for new arrivals at drop-in centres.
PANEL Chair: Professor Rachel Tribe, Professor of Applied Psychology at the University of East London
- Johanne Hudson-Lett, Artistic Director, Hear Me Out
- Phoebe Shaw, Communities Programme Manager, Untold Stories Project, Artcore, Derby.
- Kunle Adewale, Creative technology for refugees in Bosnia, Ireland and Sheffield
PROJEKT EUROPA Chair: Alexandra Coulter, Director, National Centre for Creative Health
- Maria Aberg, Artistic Director, Projekt Europa.
- Projekt Encounter: Dr Angeliki Varakis-Martin, Lecturer in Drama and Theatre, University of Kent
- Projekt Encounter: Dr Francisca Stangel and Tom Tegento, drama for refugees workshop facilitators.
RSVP your free place to attend here.
