Art is integration - 16/2/2009

I think that art and culture are important when we talk about integration, and that it is not just about housing or employment. How important do you think that art is for refugee integration? Please write a comment at the bottom of the page. 

Tomas Medhanie Bahta
Winner, Refugee Art Competition 2008, Adult Category

We had a great response to the Refugee Art Competition at the end of last year. There were drawings of detention centres and parks, paintings of communities that people had left and streets where they now live. People sent in messages of peace and depictions of mistreatment, through art forms including drawing, painting, calligraphy, textile work and music video.

We know that there are many talented refugee artists in the Yorkshire & Humber region, and hope that this competition has given some people a chance to use their talents, express themselves and show their art to a wider audience. A big thank you to everyone who took part!

Zohreh Saeedi and Zahra Saeedi,
Winners, Refugee Art Competition 2008, Under-18 category

We had all of the art displayed in our office as a mini exhibition last year, and I still have some on the wall above my desk. I aim to include some entries in the regional integration strategy which we will publish later in the year, and look at how we develop refugee art in the region.

If you want to see all of the photos of the winners and runners up, or to find out more about the competition, please go to the art competition page.

Do you have any art that you would like to share on this blog? If so, send me an email with a photo of your artwork attached.