Swansea College of Art workshops to support Sanctuary exhibition

UWTSD’s Swansea College of Art is supporting The Swansea Schools of Sanctuary and Swansea City of Sanctuary Home Away from Home exhibition by hosting workshops for pupils.

The exhibition is currently showing at the city’s Volcano theatre. The Art & Design fun day which explored themes raised by the exhibition was funded by the South Wales Reaching Wider Partnership and UWTSD’s Widening Access.

Working with pupils from St Joseph’s Cathedral Primary school, the first School of Sanctuary in Swansea, who coordinated the exhibition and Bishop Vaughan Catholic School, Swansea College of Art, in support of their School of Sanctuary application, delivered a full day of workshops on the theme of Home through a pop-up book project designed by third year UWTSD illustration student Izzy Coombs.

Pupils participating made individual fold out books in the shape of a house. The rooms contained illustrations related to their ideas and discussions on what would be their perfect home.

Swansea was recognised as the UK’s second City of Sanctuary in May 2010, and the first in Wales. On 21 June 2010, a celebration in the Brangwyn Hall took place to mark this achievement.

City of Sanctuary is a grassroots national movement committed to building a culture of hospitality and welcome, especially for refugees seeking sanctuary from war and persecution.

Swansea City of Sanctuary, which is a voluntary group, invites all organisations, local groups, and individuals to join and help make Swansea proud to be a place of safety.

Schools of Sanctuary Lead at St Joseph’s Cerian Appleby said: “Schools of Sanctuary are for everyone:  the school itself, pupils, parents, communities, local people, and people seeking sanctuary. It’s a way to engage sanctuary seekers and families with their communities and educate teachers and children about the human right to sanctuary. They are schools that are proud to be a place of safety and inclusion for all.

“We are proud to be part of the Schools of Sanctuary network and wider movement of welcome, which aims to make this vision a reality and encourage people across Wales to support Wales in its aim to become the first Nation of Sanctuary.

“As a School of Sanctuary was great to be able to work with Swansea College of Art, in Volcano, on the themes of migration and home. It gave children time to explore the themes of settlement, what makes a house a home and to consider what their ideal home would be like. The children responded well to the creative approach and making a 3D house really appealed to them. It generated conversations during the session and back in school about homes and families and what we hold most important to us. It was a great way to engage pupils about the human right to sanctuary and the importance of belonging and feeling safe and where you live.”

Caroline Thraves, Academic Director Art & Media at UWTSD said: “As Academic Director for Swansea College of Art and a Governor at St Joseph’s Cathedral Primary School, I am delighted that we were able to support St Joseph’s Cathedral Primary School and Bishop Vaughan RC Comprehensive School through the Art and Design fun day which explored the theme of ‘Sanctuary’.

“As an Art College situated in the centre of Swansea it is so important to us that we are able to support our wider community. We are a pledged member of Swansea City of Sanctuary, and our doors are always open to our surrounding communities.”

Arseima, a pupil at St Joseph’s Cathedral Primary School said: “The workshop was MAZING! I felt like I was making my own house. It helped me to think about to think about and reflect what was important to me about home.”

Finley added: “The workshop was outstanding. I have never made a paper house before. It made me think about what makes a house a home and why home is such an important place. It made me think about what happens if you need to leave your home in search of sanctuary.”

Note to Editor

UWTSD is a Widening Participation University – and is committed to a policy of widening access and attracting more diverse student groups, to facilitate opportunities to student groups and opportunities to study

OUTREACH @ SWANSEA COLLEGE OF ART, UWTSD offers a wide range of engagement activities that introduce the art college experience in a modern university setting. In addition to University Open Days and Taster days in individual departments, we offer introductory tours of the art college’s facilities and departments, half term workshops designed to develop your portfolio and provide the opportunity to apply to art college even if you haven’t studied art past GCSE, and individualised support to help you achieve your full creative potential.

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer    
Corporate Communications and PR    
Email:  rebecca.davies@uwtsd.ac.uk   
Phone: 07384 467071