Liverpool Arts Exhibition Aims to Empower Asylum Seekers

Home is where the heART is
28-32 Renshaw Street, Liverpool
11th - 23rd December 2010

The Old Rapid Hadware paint shop (former Nerve Centre site) is hosting a fascinating artistic exhibition, dubbed 'Home is where the heart is'.

The exhibition - which consists of works by local artists and refugees based in the Liverpool area - has had its doors open to the public since Friday 10th December.

Home Is Where The Heart Is has been organized by the Liverpool branch of Amnesty International and Sola Arts, in an effort to bring together different local communities with a common artistic goal.

One of the artists is Exiled Gambian journalist Pa Modou Bojang. He told Nerve that he was excited to be offered the opportunity to exhibit his work, consisting mainly of African short stories and poetry. Pa Modou said he was "delighted to be involved with the event" and hailed Sola Arts for their work in bringing the exhibition together.

The exhibition focuses on the theme of home and belonging. The organizers say the event is aimed at celebrating the contributions that refugees make to the UK and to allow for better understanding between communities.

"This is an ethos shared by Amnesty International, which, among its various campaigns, works tirelessly towards the goal of fair and effective asylum system", a press statement released by the organizers said. It added that the charity means of achieving this objective include research into aspect of asylum policy, developing proposals for improving those practices, and liaising with parliamentary groups and other influential audiences in an effort to effect change.

Sola Arts is a not-for profit participatory arts project, which has the objective of social inclusion and integration, education and empowerment through the arts.

Sola Arts also specialises in the integration and empowerment of asylum seeking and refugee communities within the UK. They work towards the development of self expression and personal development through the use of arts activities, volunteer mentoring, training and consultation.

The project was made possible by the generosity of Liverpool City Council and their Shops Upfront initiative, which provides grant to enable artists to access empty shops on the high street and the city centre for short term exhibition, workshops and art events.

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