Refugee Week Seminar Monday 20th June at Watermans Arts Centre, London
From Refuge to Freedom
Arts, Culture & Politics for Young Refugees

Chaired and co-developed by Kuljit 'Kooj' Chuhan from virtual migrants (digital and collaborative art group).
Confirmed Guest Speakers Include
Helen Johnson - Manager Children's Panel, Refugee Council
James Davies - Young Person Adviser, Refugee Arrivals Heathrow
George Ekotang - Former MD National Coalition Anti-deportation Campaign
Stella Barnes - Head of Arts in Education, Oval House
Emily Hunka - Voice Project Leader, Greenwich & Lewisham Young People Theatre
Karen Drezgic - Social Inclusion Officer, Arts Council
Also Ramazan Mohamed, Liz Leyh, Roy Ajala, Iseult Timmermans (details to be announced).

Coinciding with this year’s Refugee Week 20 - 26 June, Watermans are hosting a seminar, From Refuge to Freedom, focusing on the role that the arts can play in assisting young refugees and asylum seekers to integrate into their new communities.

The seminar, to be held on Monday 20 June, will feature presentations and discussions facilitated by experts from the refugee and asylum seeking community and artists & arts organisations with direct experience of working with young recent arrivals.

Please read on for a brief description of the seminar and its content.

It would be appreciated if you could please distribute this information to others who you feel may be interested in the event.

An information pack containing detailed information about From Refuge to Freedom is available by emailing or telephoning Nadia Nervo, Watermans Acting Head of Participative Arts.

The pack is available as a PDF file (approx 1MB) or as a printed version.

Yours sincerely

Nadia Nervo
Watermans
Acting Head of Participative Arts
020 8232 1033
nadia@watermans.org.uk

-----------------------------
Refugee Week Seminar

From Refuge to Freedom
Arts, Culture & Politics for Young Refugees

Monday 20 June 2005
9.45am – 4.30 pm
Watermans
40 High Street
Brentford TW8 0DS
www.watermans.org.uk

Overview
From Refuge to Freedom will explore the role of the arts in contributing to the community integration of young refugees and asylum seekers.

In 2003 a total of 60,045 applications for asylum in the United Kingdom were received. 30,565 of these applications were made by, or on behalf of, asylum seekers under 25 years of age.*

* Home Office Asylum Statistics UK 2003, 2nd Edition, updated November 2004. Figures include dependants.

Seminar Content
By bringing together experts from the refugee and asylum seeking community and artists and arts workers with direct experience working with young recent arrivals, From Refuge to Freedom will address areas including:
· What are the issues faced by young refugees and asylum seekers in the UK, what support is available and where does the need remain?
· How can the arts develop and make visible the various identities within the refugee community?
· What transitional processes can arts activity assist and how?
· How can young refugees and asylum seekers develop self-reliance and self-determinism?
· What are the critical and unifying perspectives that underpin the future of refugee groups and how can they be communicated to young people in general to develop a more tolerant society?
· Raising awareness of existing networks, infrastructure and projects relating to the arts and young refugees and asylum seekers.

Seminar Cost
Seminar cost includes lunch and refreshments during the day and is inclusive of VAT
Central & Local Government/Businesses ₤60
Voluntary Organisations/Individuals ₤30

Further Information
If you would like further information about From Refuge to Freedom please contact Nadia Nervo, Watermans Acting Head of Participative Arts.
Nadia Nervo
020 8232 1033
nadia@watermans.org.uk
www.watermans.org.uk