Call for Artists: Join the Finding Pride Project
Kings Heath Action for Refugees (KHAR) and Journey LGBT+ Asylum Group are looking for two talented artists to be part of Finding Pride, an exciting new creative project supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals from refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds in Birmingham.
About Finding Pride
Finding Pride is a collaborative art project designed to provide a safe and supportive creative space where participants can explore identity, self-expression, and community through artistic practice. Through a series of six workshops, participants will experiment with different mediums before developing final pieces for an exhibition launch on 4th July in Kings Heath.
The same group will attend all six sessions, allowing for deeper engagement, artistic development, and confidence-building. The workshops will take place at The Hive in Moseley on the following dates:
Workshop Dates:
- Saturday 12 April 2025
- Saturday 26 April 2025
- Saturday 10 May 2025
- Saturday 14 June 2025
- Saturday 7 June 2025
- Saturday 21 June 2025
- Workshop Timings: 14:00 – 16:00
The project aims to strengthen connections within the LGBTQIA+ community, recognising the intersectionality of participants’ experiences.
About Journey LGBT+ Asylum Group
Journey LGBT+ Asylum Group is a support group for LGBT+ asylum seekers and refugees in Birmingham and the West Midlands. The group provides a welcoming, safe, and supportive space, helping individuals build confidence and a sense of community. Journey also offers information, signposting, and support throughout the asylum process and the transition to life in the UK.
Who We’re Looking For
We’re seeking two artists to lead creative workshops:
Photographer:
- Focus on exploring identity and storytelling through photography.
- We are particularly interested in using Polaroids (or similar instant photography) but are open to other creative approaches.
Visual or Music Artist:
- Specialising in sculpting, clay, junk modelling, collage, painting, or music.
- Introduce participants to new artistic mediums and creative techniques.
Each artist will pitch a workshop idea that aligns with the project themes of identity, expression, and community.
What We Offer
- Artist Fee: £200 per session
- Materials Budget: £500
What We’re Looking For
Essential:
- Experience delivering creative workshops
- Confidence in leading and supporting participants
- An independent creative practice in photography or one of the listed art forms
- Availability for all workshop dates
Desirable:
- Experience working with refugee/asylum-seeking and/or LGBTQIA+ communities
- DBS check (beneficial but not essential)
How to Apply
To apply, please send:
- A short statement about your practice, experience
- Proposed workshop idea of how you would work with the group, considering the themes of identity, expression, and community
- Examples of previous work
- Your availability for all the listed dates
For questions or to apply, email kingsheathaction@hotmail.com by Monday 3rd March 2025.
We actively encourage applications from underrepresented communities and those with lived experience relevant to this project.
KHAR’s next big chapter
We are delighted to announce that this year, Kings Heath Action for Refugees has been officially granted charity status by the Charity Commission. This recognition moves us from being a not for profit charitable community group to better reflect our endeavour to raise funds and support some of the most vulnerable in our society.
Charity status also means your donations will now be eligible for gift aid to make your money go further. Which is more important than ever as we work to support the increasing numbers seeking sanctuary and fleeing violence.
“This is a landmark moment for KHAR as we scale up our efforts in light of the desperate global refugee situation. I am excited about the next chapter of our work which will build on fundraising strengths to make a difference to crisis response efforts both in Europe and in the UK. And, of course, continuing to support Birmingham as a place of sanctuary providing befriending and awareness raising locally.”
Lucy Kenny, Chair of KHAR
KHAR launches its winter fundraising appeal this month to provide essential packs to refugees recently arriving. These include winter essentials for men, women and children staying in temporary initial accommodation will include warm items, cosmetics and children’s education materials. The new charity status means we can also benefit from Amazon’s donation programme and we have set up a wishlist for you to purchase items directly and benefit. We have also added new designs to #shopwithlove including tees, pouches and sweatshirts just in time for your shopping. You can find these at a number of local brum markets over the coming festive period – including Paperdolls this weekend.
Of course, they are also all available to purchase online at www.actionforrefugees.org.
Hear Their Stories – Journey to Safety
Kings Heath Action for Refugees and Refugee Support Europe are pleased to welcome Dina Nayeri and Gulwali Passarlay to share with us their journeys as refugees travelling to the safety, as told in their respective books ‘The Ungrateful Refugee’ and ‘Lightless Sky’.
On Tuesday 16th June at 7pm, we invite you to join us in Aston University’s Sumpner Lecture Theatre for a live discussion of their journeys, with all proceeds going to Refugee Action Europe and King’s Heath Action for Refugees.
Tickets are available now via our TicketTailor page.
About the authors
Dina Nayeri
Dina Nayeri was just a child when she fled Iran as an asylum seeker. But as she settled into life in the US and then Europe, she became suspicious of the idea that refugees should shed their old identities and be eternally thankful.
The Guardian (2017)
via https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/04/dina-nayeri-ungrateful-refugee
Purchase a copy of ‘The Ungrateful Refugee’ at the event.
Guwali Passarlay
I was just 12 years old when my brother and I began to receive demands from the Taliban and from the government. The Taliban wanted us to fight or die, the government wanted us to become informants. We were terrified.
Refugees like me and my brother will stop at nothing to reach safety. And COVID-19 won’t change that. But it is making people’s journeys infinitely more dangerous.
Guwali Passarlay
via https://gulwalipassarlay.wordpress.com/
Purchase a copy of ‘The Lightless Sky’ at the event.
Archived – Birds of one Sky
Check out our COVID-19 response and downloadable colouring in sheets here.
KHARnival 2019
Kings Heath Action for Refugees are very excited for KHARnival! 2019 on Saturday 20th July – programme and full schedule to be announced soon – watch this space! Click here to RSVP on facebook.
