Portsmouth City of Sanctuary has partnered with a range of creative organisations in the City, including Aspex Portsmouth, 432 Nomads, Seekers Create and Journeys Festival. With these organisations we have formed a strong community of Portsmouth asylum seekers and refugees proud to showcase their creative talents alongside members of the local community.
Portsmouth Refugee Week 2024:
Creative partners 432 nomads organised a series of fantastic events across the city showcasing the talents of asylum seekers, refugees and migrants, during the week of 17-23 June 2024. Poetry, film, music, rap, dance and conversations took place at Portsmouth Cathedral, The Canteen, Portsmouth Central Library, Coastguard Studio, Aspex Gallery, Hunter Gatherer, All Saints Church and the Royal Albert Pub. It was a great success with Portsmouth City of Sanctuary celebrating its 5th anniversary at the same time. You can read about the Refugee Week launch evening published by Portsmouth Cathedral and see some of the fabulous photographs taken at the event – Refugee Week launched at Portsmouth Cathedral.
Creative Partners:
Yellow Edge Gallery
We are delighted to partner with Yellow Edge Gallery in Gosport who is organising a programme of art workshops funded by Arts Council England, especially for people seeking sanctuary in Gosport. The programme will be taught by professional watercolour artist and illustrator Kevin Dean.
432 Nomads
Celebrating Portsmouth Refugee Week and Ports Fest 2023
Ports Fest 2023: Ignite the Phoenix
Dancing Through The Reigns of Fire
Portsmouth Creates
We Shine Festival – Through Our Eyes
Pooja Shah
Rangknit and Rangoli workshops at the Refugee Sanctuary Hub
Aspex Portsmouth
Aspex Portsmouth have been working closely with us on a number of creative projects for our community of people seeking sanctuary. They have run a weekly arts activity project at the PCoS Refugee Sanctuary Hub which was very successful. In addition, they have invited our community into their beautiful gallery to take part in projects that lead to exhibitions open to the public:-
Aspex Portsmouth – Healing Now We Are Here, Press article
Aspex Portsmouth – Playful, Press article
Director of Aspex Jo Bushness talks about the project in this video.
DVMISSION Film Festival
In partnership with Action Asylum, a team of young asylum seekers has won the ‘Spirit of DVMISSION’ Award at the DVMISSION Film Festival for their film The Diamond Chronicles.
St Luke’s Church
Jubilee Celebration – Press article
We are thankful to our funders, supporters and the local communities who come together to participate in many projects that promote the integration of refugees and asylum seekers.