Event

Please note this event will discuss material of a highly sensitive nature that may be triggering for some individuals.

Eastbourne’s Sanctuary Café, artist Arpita Shah, Refugee Radio from Brighton and curator Noelle Collins discuss creatively forming spaces of sanctuary.

About the speakers

Sanctuary Café

Running since 2016, Sanctuary offers a free drop-in service for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in Eastbourne and the surrounding area. The organisation has helped people from over 50 nationalities and on average welcomes between 30-50 visitors each week. Sanctuary signposts on immigration issues, provides donated items, a social space for games and chatting, an art table as well as a dedicated room for sewing. Our visitors are often victims of conflict, persecution, torture and human trafficking and we are able to offer them a warm welcome and practical support.

Arpita Shah

Arpita Shah is a photographic artist and educator based in Eastbourne, UK. Her work explores the intersections of culture and identity through both photography and film. Born in India, Shah spent an earlier part of her life living between Ireland, Saudi Arabia and India before settling in the UK. This migratory experience is reflected in her practice, which often focuses on the notion of home, belonging and shifting cultural identities. Shah’s work has been shown internationally in the USA, India, United Arab Emirates and across the UK. She is the recipient of the 2019 Light Work + Autograph ABP Artist-in-Residence programme in Syracuse NY and her work is held at the National Galleries of Scotland.

Refugee Radio

Refugee Radio is a charity that supports refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants. We run community projects in Brighton & Hove targeting mental health, isolation and social exclusion. We also use radio and music to give a voice to those who do not have one.

Noelle Collins

Noelle Collins's curatorial practice has been developed from a grassroots level through to working with arts institutions including Arts Council Collection (UK), the Irish Pavilion at the Venice Biennale and EVA International - Ireland’s Biennial of Contemporary Art. She has been working at Towner Eastbourne since 2016.

Programmed in association with Brewers Towner International.

Access

We have a budget available to make this event as accessible as possible – this includes services such as BSL interpretation and closed-captioning, or other access needs we can meet to enable you to participate. If you require access arrangements, please email programme@townereastbourne.org.uk before the event date so that we can book a service if needed.