Portsmouth City of Sanctuary has partnered with a range of creative organisations in the City, including Aspex Portsmouth, 432 Nomads (Majid Dhana and Rishky Patel) and Journeys Festival. These organisations and individual artists have formed a strong community of Portsmouth asylum seekers and refugees proud to showcase their creative talents alongside members of the local community. 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. See upcoming events:
Refugee Week
432-Nomads and Portsmouth City of Sanctuary will be taking you on a journey as part of this year’s Refugee Week.
19 June, 6.00-8.30pm: Refugee Week Launch concert, St. Lukes Church, PO5 4LH
22 June, 4.30-6pm: Phoenix meets Compassion, Portsmouth Central Library, PO1 2DX
22 June, 7-9pm: Pheonix meets Compassion Let’s Vibe, Hunter Gatherer, PO4 0JR
23 June, 10am-2pm: Art meets Compassion, Spark Community Centre, PO4 8SL
23 June, 6-7pm: Meditation Arts meets Compassion, Southsea Library, PO5 3QQ
23 June, 7-9pm: Arts meets Compassion (evening event), Bold Forester, PO4 0JW
24 June, 11am-3pm: Art Explosion meets Compassion, Southsea Library, PO5 3QQ
24 June, 11am-3pm: Let’s Create Compassion, Palmerston Road, PO5 3QQ
24 June, 7-9pm: Compassions Art at the Bridge Tavern, PO1 2JJ
25 June, 12-2pm: Celebration of Compassion Aspex Portsmouth, PO1 3BF (Refugee Week closing)
Ports Fest
28 June–2 July 2023: Ignite the Phoenix
During Ports Fest, 432-Nomads will be taking you on a journey. An eclectic collective of local artists from all walks of life – Pompey bred and born to the ones here creating a new home: migrants, refugees and asylum seekers brought together with support from local schools. All of them come together to bring you vibrant and expressive art, music, dance, poetry and more, showcasing the talent within Portsmouth city. To believe in ourselves, we must believe in others.
28 June, 7-9pm: Ignite the Phoenix: Re-birth, The Loft, PO5 2SE
29 June, 8-10pm: Ignite the Phoenix: Warmth, The Royal Albert, PO5 2SQ
30 June, 7-9pm: Ignite the Phoenix: Strength, Bold Forester, PO4 0JW
1 July, 12-2pm: Ignite the Phoenix: Ashes, Coastguard Studios, PO4 0SA
2 July, 11am-3pm: Ignite the Phoenix: Regeneration, Gunwharf Quays, PO1 3TZ
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
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
A Jubilee Celebration concert to mark the Queens Platinum Jubilee Celebrations. Local artists teamed up with local refugees and asylum seekers to create a fantastic cultural concert. We would like to thank – Majid, Rhisky, DrumNation, Africapella, Sen Sen, and Salsa Katanga all of whom are local musicians. We are thankful to the ARTS Council and HIWFC for the funding. Read about the project in the Portsmouth News – Press article
