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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250622
DTSTAMP:20260422T184331
CREATED:20250501T151229Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250602T102852Z
UID:10000495-1748649600-1750550399@counterpoints.org.uk
SUMMARY:What Will We Do Without Exile?
DESCRIPTION:What Will We Do Without Exile? by Basel Zaraa is an immersive\, multi-sensory installation that creates a lush world within a refugee tent\, inviting audiences to imagine life beyond occupation. \nIt is one of our four public art commissions for Moomin 80 during Refugee Week. \nVisit Bradford 2025 Uk City of Culture for full visit details including opening times. \nWhat Will We Do Without Exile\nBy Basel Zaraa \nIn collaboration with: Emily Churchill Zaraa \nSound artist: Pete Churchill \nNewspaper Illustrator and Designer: Charlotte Bailey \nFeaturing the voice of Sahar Qawasmi \nWith thanks to all the interview participants. \nWhile generations of Palestinian bodies have been forced into tents\, their imaginations have never stopped reaching for liberation. What Will We Do Without Exile? pays tribute to imagination as resistance\, as it celebrates the natural and cultural richness of Palestine\, past\, present and future. Through sight\, touch\, sound and stories\, audience members are transported to a reality where the land and its people are finally free. \nWhat Will We Do Without Exile? honours the struggle and sacrifice of colonised people\, and imagines a world where they have not only won their liberation\, but where their resilience and ingenuity are recognised as invaluable examples for humanity in crisis. \nBasel Zaraa is a UK-based Palestinian artist whose work uses the senses to bring audiences closer to experiences of exile and war\, and who creates art in order to face\, express and understand the trauma that his community lives with. His current installation\, ‘What Will We Do Without Exile?’ is an immersive\, multi-sensory installation that creates a lush world within a refugee tent\, inviting audiences to imagine life beyond occupation and war. \nSince 2022 he has also been touring ‘Dear Laila’\, an intimate\, a one-person-at-a-time installation centred around the recreation of a destroyed family home\, which received the ZKB Audience Award 2023. His previous work includes ‘As Far As My Fingertips Take Me’\, a collaboration with Tania El Khoury\, which was awarded Outstanding Production at the Bessie Awards in 2019. His work has been shown at over 50 venues and festivals across five continents. \nWhat Will We Do Without Exile? is co-commissioned and co-produced with Counterpoints Arts and Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture and made possible by Moomin Characters Ltd as part of the  celebration of the 80th anniversary of the first Moomins book. \nRead a text from the opening of the installation on 31 May 2025
URL:https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/what-will-we-do-without-exile/
LOCATION:The Beacon – Bowling Park\, 263 Bowling Hall Rd\, Bradford\, BD4 7TL
CATEGORIES:Refugee Week,Visual Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://counterpoints.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/without-exil-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250611
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250707
DTSTAMP:20260422T184331
CREATED:20250429T211104Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250709T121655Z
UID:10000494-1749600000-1751846399@counterpoints.org.uk
SUMMARY:To Own Both Nothing and the Whole World
DESCRIPTION:Henna Asikainen & Roua Horanieh: To Own Both Nothing and the Whole World\nAn exhibition of work by artists Henna Asikainen and Roua Horanieh will be presented at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art\, Gateshead during Refugee Week 2025. The project has been developed with the participation of a group of people with experience of migration and displacement\, who now live in Gateshead and Newcastle. \nUpdate: book free tickets for a special Midsummer Event on 21 June as part of the installation. \nCo-commissioned and co-produced by Counterpoints Arts and Baltic\, made possible by the support of Moomin Characters Ltd. It is part of celebrations marking 80 years since the publication of the first Moomin story by Tove Jansson\, which had a focus on displacement. The title of the exhibition is a quote from Snufkin\, one of the characters in the Moomin stories. \nIt is one of our four public art commissions for Moomin 80 during Refugee Week. \nThe project explores ideas of home and belonging\, reflecting on the impact of displacement on both human and more-than-human worlds. Recognising that nature is our first habitat without which no home can be built. The materials used in the work are foraged from the surrounding landscape\, each carrying its own enchanting story—bringing communities together in unexpected and meaningful ways. \nThe multiple artworks will be seen outside of the gallery\, in the entrance area Lightbox\, on Ground Floor and in the Level 5 Viewing Box\, with its presence woven across Baltic. \nAt the heart of the work are Taihaku cherry trees and their extraordinary migration story\, where a sole migrant tree in the UK became a saviour of the whole ecosystem\, reviving the extinct community in its native country of Japan. \nThe exhibition also encompasses migratory birdnests with their many stories of movement\, resilience and adaptation and 200-year-old tree roots planted during the Napoleonic Wars\, and which were uprooted by a recent storm. Willow and other foraged wonders from community gardens feature within the artwork alongside a tree felled by a storm in local suburbia\, a reminder of nature’s unpredictability and the cycles of loss and renewal. \nThrough this assemblage of living histories\, To Own Both Nothing and The Whole World invites reflection on the interconnected journeys of people\, plants\, and place—foregrounding the invaluable contribution migrants bring to this country\, and the power and beauty of nature and community in shaping our shared world. \nThe project aims to raise awareness around displacement and climate\, to create the opportunity for dialogue with asylum seekers\, refugees and migrants around the perception of their migration\, their future and how they can thrive in a new environment. It also enables the opportunity for dialogue within the local area on what it takes to welcome a migrant community. Many different elements make a nest\, and it takes many to create it\, weaving together different elements to create something solid that can hold and shelter someone. By creating a story that lives on in people’s memories and thoughts\, there is the potential to change minds and behaviours. \nHenna Asikainen is a Finnish multidisciplinary artist based in the UK\, renowned for her socially engaged and participatory practice. Her work explores the intricate relationships between humans and the natural world\, addressing themes of migration\, climate justice\, social belonging\, and the ecological impact of displacement. \nFor this new public artwork\, Henna is collaborating with Syrian writer and architect Roua Horanieh\, whose multidisciplinary career spans architecture\, storytelling\, and cultural reflection. \nWe are grateful for additional support towards the public programme from the Finnish Institute. The Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland supports the internationalisation of Finnish and Finland-based artists\, researchers and social actors. As the leading expert on Finnish culture and society\, the Institute enables societal change through art and culture\, empowering diverse perspectives and fostering a more inclusive cultural landscape for all. Founded in 1991\, the Institute is a non-profit\, private foundation funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. \nHenna and Roua write: \nWe extend our heartfelt thanks to The Alnwick Garden\, Howick Hall Gardens and Arboretum\, and Scotswood Community Garden for their generous and invaluable support of To Own Both Nothing and the Whole World. Their collaboration has been vital in shaping the material and conceptual depth of this project. \nFrom the Tai-Haku cherry trees to ancient oak roots and the supple willow branches\, the contributions of these unique gardens and landscapes have enriched the narrative of this work—allowing us to explore the themes of migration\, belonging\, and the interconnectedness of all life. We have deeply valued the opportunity to collaborate not only with the dedicated staff of each garden but also with our more-than-human allies\, whose histories and presences have helped bring the project to life. \nThis partnership has been a meaningful reminder that communities—both human and more-than-human—thrive through generosity\, shared care\, and reciprocal relationships. Thank you. \nRead a blog post about a visit to Alnwick Gardens as part of the project \nRead an article on Cultured. North East \nDownload a guide to the project: To Own Both Nothing and the Whole World (pdf)
URL:https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/to-own-both-nothing-and-the-whole-world/
LOCATION:Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art\, Shore Rd\, Gateshead\, NE8 3BA
CATEGORIES:Refugee Week,Visual Arts
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250614
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250623
DTSTAMP:20260422T184331
CREATED:20250512T062337Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250512T073842Z
UID:10000499-1749859200-1750636799@counterpoints.org.uk
SUMMARY:You Look as Though You Might Be a Relation
DESCRIPTION:As part of the Counterpoints Moomin 80 commissions for Refugee Week\, Gloucester Guildhall presents You Look as Though You Might Be a Relation by Dana Olărescu. \nFull details \nGloucester Docks \n“Hello there!” cried Moomintroll through the storm\, to show that he was not afraid. “Hello\, hello\,” said the sea-troll. “You look as though you might be a relation”. \nA floating installation by socially engaged artist Dana Olărescu invites us to reflect on how we welcome newcomers to our city\, and form bonds beyond blood ties. Throughout the week\, the raft will travel to various locations\, with a special launch and a culminating live performance. Join us as we explore belonging\, family\, and community in new and unexpected ways. \nThe installation has been co-commissioned and co-produced by Counterpoints Arts and Gloucester Guildhall\, made possible by the support of Moomin Characters Ltd. in celebration of 80 years since the publication of the first Moomin story. \nSite 1 – Sat 14 – Tue 18 Jun \nSite 2 – Tue 18 – Wed 19 Jun \nSite 3 – Thu 20 – Sat 22 Jun \nOnto the Water\nDate and time TBA \nNational Waterways Museum\, Gloucester Docks \nFree\, no booking required \nCome down and take a look at the raft installation as we witness it setting sail\, carrying stories of welcome across the water. A one-of-a-kind moment of adventure awaits. \nMoonlit Arrival\nFri 20 Jun\, 6pm & 7pm \nNorth Quay Docks\, Gloucester Docks \nAs the moon rises\, the Moomin raft will embark on its final journey across the docks. Gather by the water and let the melodies of local artist Zariq Rosita-Hanif float to you on the evening breeze\, carried from the raft beneath the midsummer sky. \nFor those who wish to get closer\, a limited number of special tickets will allow you to row out and experience the music up close. Bring your nightlights and join us for a serene and magical farewell as the raft drifts gently into the night. \nMoomin Picnic \nSat 21 Jun\, 12pm – 6pm \nKings Square \nJoin us for a Moomin-style picnic to mark the finale of a fantastic week of city-wide events for Refugee Week\, part of the Moomins’ 80th-anniversary celebrations. \nIn response to Dana Olărescu’s floating installation in the docks: You Look as Though You Might be a Relation\, the day will celebrate community as a superpower and welcome as a core part of our city’s identity. \nEnjoy delicious free tasters\, engaging activities\, and music from around the world. Bring a picnic – and a small welcoming gift for a stranger. \nWelcome Chorus \nSat 14 & Sat 21 Jun 11am – 5pm\, Tue 17 – Fri 20 Jun 12pm – 2pm and 5pm – 8pm \nRed Isaac\, Senior Producer\, Gloucester Guildhall\, said: “As a dock city\, welcoming people seeking sanctuary is built into our story. There is huge pride in this heritage\, and the theme of welcoming people features prominently in the work of communities and arts organisations across the city\, recognising the transformative and rich contributions of all the cultures that make up Gloucester. The story of welcome\, belonging and safety at the heart of the Moomins chime perfectly with Gloucester Guildhall and city’s values. We are delighted to explore and celebrate these important themes in this project with Moomin Characters and Counterpoint Arts.” \nGloucester Guildhall \nWe will transform our Gallery and Chamber Cinema space into a pop-up book-style welcome. Experience an immersive light and sound installation by Squidsoup & Vilk Collective Welcome Chorus which echoes songs of welcome\, belonging and overcoming adversity gathered from communities across Gloucester. Let the soothing melodies and glowing orbs wrap you in a blanket of harmony and comfort in our warm space/snug. \nMoomins on Film \nSat 7 Jun \nGloucester Guildhall \nMoomins On the Riviera (U)\, 11am \nThe Moomins set sail for the Riviera\, where\, after a journey fraught with storms and desert island dangers\, Snorkmaiden is dazzled by the attentions of a playboy and Moomintroll learns that jealousy’s sting is the most painful of all. \nTOVE (12A)\, 2pm \nA captivating drama about the creator of the Moomins\, her iconic talent and her turbulent search for identity\, desire and freedom. \nMoomin ABC \nSat 29 Mar – Sun 5 Oct \nMuseum of Gloucester \nSettle down for an hour to explore the magic world of the Moomins with your family and immerse yourself in the adventures of Moominmamma\, Sniff\, Stinky\, Little My\, Hodgkins\, Snufkin and Snorkmaiden! \nThe Moomin Gift Shop \nUntil Oct \nMuseum of Gloucester \nFind beautiful gifts\, Tove Jansson prints and cards\, official Moomin merchandise\, and limited edition Moomin 80 items at the Pop-up Moomin Gift Shop at Museum of Gloucester\, open Tue-Sun every week.
URL:https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/you-look-as-though-you-might-be-a-relation/
LOCATION:Gloucester Guildhall\, 23 Eastgate Street\, Gloucester\, GL1 1NS\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Community & Participation,Refugee Week,Visual Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://counterpoints.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MoominsBoat.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250616T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250622T160000
DTSTAMP:20260422T184331
CREATED:20250513T142506Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250529T143310Z
UID:10000501-1750071600-1750608000@counterpoints.org.uk
SUMMARY:Encounters
DESCRIPTION:ENCOUNTERS is a site-specific installation developed by Kingston School of Art’s MArch Architecture students in collaboration with MA Photography students\, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration rooted in circular economy principles and reuse strategies. Featuring photographic and moving image works\, the exhibition responds to the themes of migration\, refuge\, and displacement. \nThe exhibition is running from 16 to 22 June\, 11am – 4pm each day\, at Yorkton Workshops. \nAlongside the exhibition\, a panel discussion will explore cultural production and research practices related to migration\, displacement\, and social justice. These conversations aim to deepen engagement with the themes at the heart of the project. \nThe panel discussion will be led by Dr Maria Mencia\, an artist-researcher in media arts and digital poetics\, codirector of the research group Sound/Image/Media/ Encounters (SIME) and postgraduate coordinator at Kingston School of Art. Guest speakers will include Dr Amak Mahmoodian\, a multidisciplinary artist and educator\, Kate Watson\, visual artist\, researcher and educator\, Liz Hingley\, artist and anthropologist and Edwin Mingard\, visual artist working principally with moving image. \nThe panel will take place on Thursday 19 June 2025 from 3 to 6pm. Reserve your free place here. Spaces are limited. \nThere will also be a Private Viewing on Thursday 19 June 2025\, from 6.30-9pm. \nThis project is created in partnership with Refugee Week (the world’s largest arts & culture festival celebrating the contributions\, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary)\, Counterpoints (a leading national organisation in the field of arts\, migration and cultural change) and Yorkton Workshops (home to award-winning design studio Pearson Lloyd). \nThe Project:\nEncounters began as a live brief module for MA Photography students\, developed in partnership with Refugee Week and Counterpoints Arts. The students were invited to respond to a brief set by the Refugee Week team and independently devise projects that explore the themes of migration and displacement. For many\, this marked their first direct engagement with refugee experiences and the complexities surrounding displacement. \nTackling such a profound and challenging subject matter has proven to be both a demanding and deeply rewarding journey. It was a process of learning\, and in many cases\, of unlearning: questioning assumptions\, cultivating empathy\, and discovering new ways of seeing. This exhibition presents a diverse range of creative responses\, reflecting not only on the realities of displacement\, but also on the process of coming to understand those realities. \nThe final installation emerged from yet another meaningful Encounter – this time with 17 exceptionally talented MArch Architecture students. Volunteering their time\, they collaborated with MA Photography students to create a site-specific installation that responds to the themes of displacement and refuge. Their design is grounded in circular economy principles\, bringing a sense of lightness/ transience and a commitment to adaptability\, reuse and sustainability. \nThis exhibition is\, above all\, a reflection of all these Encounters – between disciplines\, between people\, and between perspectives. It seeks to convey the insights and growth our students have experienced as they engaged with this vital and urgent topic. \nParticipating Artists:\nAnchen Li\, Anna Jannepalli\, Tommy Pai\, Edith Robinson\, Eghbal Raoufifard\, Jaewoo Lee\, Jay Lin\, Justin Pappoe\, Meng Zhang\, Jingyao Yan\, Rui Zheng\, Shubham Kakade\, Tilan Xue\, Zixin Luo\, Tom Cai\, Yang Tonge\, with Nana Varveropoulou as MA Photography module leader. \nRify Hossain\, Chelsea Richards\, Cam Heslop\, Priyanshi Dhanrajbhai Jain\, Pete Goding\, Alice Parker\, Azsvina Ragunathan\, Eadan Filbrandt\, Babitha Ravi Kumar\, Telma Ferraris\, Rama Shetty\, Rio Jablonski\, Ian Karuhanga\, Berfin Tas\, Valerie Wan\, Shadi Rashedi\, Anisha Iqbal\, Rajan Savaliya\, with Aoife Donnelly as MArch Architecture Lead.
URL:https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/encounters/
LOCATION:Yorkton Workshops\, 1-3 Yorkton St\, London\, London\, E2 8NH\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Digital,Film and Photography,London Refugee Week,Multi-Art Form,Photography,Refugee Week,Visual Arts
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://counterpoints.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/encounters-1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250621T110000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250621T160000
DTSTAMP:20260422T184331
CREATED:20250616T100322Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250616T132908Z
UID:10000523-1750503600-1750521600@counterpoints.org.uk
SUMMARY:V&A: Threads of Joy and Community
DESCRIPTION:A day of family-friendly workshops and performances to celebrate Refugee Week\, inspired by themes of joy and small acts of kindness. \n  \n“you’re a man now\, boy”   by Isaac Ouro-Gnao\n13:00-13:20 and 15:00-15:20 at the Raphael Gallery\nyou’re a man now\, boy is a dance performance weaving hip hop\, contemporary\, and magical realism into an empathetic experience. Through voice and dynamic movement\, it explores the joy\, the hardship\, and the community found through the healing of mental health difficulties and trauma. \n\n\n\n\n  \nCollaging workshop with Community Arts Box\n\n11:00 – 16:00 at the Learning Centre\nFree drop in collaging workshop focussing on this years Refugee Week theme: Community as a Superpower \n\n\n\n\n\n  \nV&A have curated a day long of family friendly Refugee Week activities\, check out the full programme here:
URL:https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/va-threads-of-joy-and-community/
LOCATION:V&A\, Cromwell Rd\, London\, SW7 2RL
CATEGORIES:Community & Participation,Refugee Week
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://counterpoints.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Threads-of-Joy-and-Community.jpeg
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