For a number of years I have been volunteering with asylum seekers at the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre on a variety of projects. This has been an absolute joy! In 2008 a fabulous woman named Louise Pianta approached us to run a multi-arts event called Light On The Path Ahead. The idea took off like wildfire and both volunteers and asylum seeker members of the centre joined forces to develop the project's direction.
As several members of the centre were already known to us as artists in their own countries, we sought to get them involved as collaborators in the program. We paired up these artists with volunteer artists in the wider community of Melbourne. Their task would be to co-facilitate a creative arts workshop in their chosen medium to other members and volunteers of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. So we had something like traditional weaving techniques from Uganda but made with recycled materials from factory off-cuts.
During the Sundays the program ran, there were several workshops running concurrently in weaving, toy making, screen printing, music, singing, dance, shadow puppetry, zine making and body percussion just to name a few. A scrumptous lunch was prepared by members and volunteers of the centre for all to enjoy.
The program ran weekly over 6 intensive weekends, leading up to a performance showcase night of all the wonderful works created during the sessions. Many talented musicians generously gave their time to perform at the event. The project was so successful that we decided to continue running a regular arts program at the centre held on a monthly basis under the name of Art Carnivale.
It was profoundly moving to collaborate on this special program with so many talented people. It was a genuine sharing of hearts, minds and dreams and a chance to really get to know one another through the process of making art together. As a facilitator and organizer of the program, I felt privileged to watch how people grew personally and artistically, how they were able to leave an isolated space to come connect with others in a meaningful way. And how through listening, trusting and supporting one another, we co-created something transformative with long lasting effect.
I am still in the process of gathering images from this project, so this page will be evolving!
