Student Support in collaboration with Bath STAR - Student Action for Refugees are hosting an exhibition called Finding Home in Education.

The work we'll be sharing at the exhibition is the result of a a two-day participatory arts workshop held in February at King’s College London. The workshop drew upon the Refugee Week 2024 theme of 'Our Home'. Led by renowned artists Majid Adin and Dana Olarescu, it explored ideas of belonging and sanctuary in UK universities. The project was developed in collaboration with the University of Warwick, the University of Essex, Oxford Brookes University, Bristol University, the University of Cardiff, Newcastle University, Counterpoints Arts, the University of Sanctuary network, Student Action for Refugees (STAR) and the Open Learning Initiative (OLIve).

Workshop attendees created a series of posters exploring their lived experiences of being forcibly displaced, and the role that higher education can play when on a journey in search of sanctuary. These posters powerfully illustrate concepts of loss alongside hope and the challenges of access to – alongside the life changing impacts of – higher education.

The workshop was a critical moment for me because it enhanced my confidence, extended my circle of friends, and provided me with the opportunity to learn from the experiences of fellow refugee students. As a recipient of the Warm Welcome Scholarship at the University of Bath, it deepened my appreciation for the sense of belonging and safety I have found. Through reflecting on our collective experiences with art, we created a mosaic of hope and resilience, showing how important education is to us. Mir Miri, Warm Welcome Scholar and workshop participant.

Imagine the UK as a big puzzle, where every piece tells the story of someone searching for safety and hope. In the workshop Finding Home, we, like puzzle pieces, found ourselves together, sharing the same dream of rebuilding our lives with courage and resilience. Workshop participant.

This in-person event will be taking place on Thursday 25 April at 1pm at The Edge. Join us as we delve into the intersection of creative art and education and discover how they can create a sense of belonging and home. Explore thought-provoking pieces that challenge traditional notions of education and inspire new perspectives.

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to engage with innovative ideas and connect with like-minded individuals. There will be talks from students with experience of forced migration, displays of the posters and a screening of a nine-minute film ‘Finding Home in Higher Education’.

If you would like further information, please contact Imroze Sahota at studentsuccess@bath.ac.uk