Written by CWS Durham Art Therapist Lindy Chicola
Over the last year, our Refugee Wellness program benefited from opportunities that let the Art Group (AG) members, comprised of participating clients, venture their work into the public eye. Beginning last summer at Durham Refugee Day, the participants gained experience in their first market, earned some money, and had positive interactions around their creations and the attendees.
These benefits continued to develop with the collaboration of outside businesses helping AG participants get their work seen and into the market, a path typically wrought with barriers for any creative/crafts-person, and financially prohibitive for those under the poverty line.
One of these new collaborations was with the Bull City Fair Trade Store, which hosted a pop-up market in a supportive atmosphere. Another local shop, Casa Bella, viewed the crafts of one participant and offered to display/sell some in their store before the holidays.
Three other successful markets took place last fall— Festifall with the City of Chapel Hill, Theatre Raleigh, and one at a local restaurant, Pure Soul. At each market, money was earned by members, totaling up to $1,050 to date.
The Refugee Artisan Collective of North Carolina Instagram page continues gaining followers. Thanks to donors learning of the initiative, we have also been able to gift two sewing machines to participants. Other organizations, such as World Relief and a local museum, have reached out to inquire about our activities.
These important partnerships and relationships between the our Refugee Wellness program and outside affiliations have helped support the initiative. This not only serves as a potential side-stream of income, but also a living conversation between the participants’ creativity and the outside world. As opportunities grow and offer momentum, the AG has formed a type of artisan collective, a social form that has already shown to offer some stability and support for the members.
From Shafiqa, an AG participant who offers tailoring and creates embroidered items and jewelry for the markets: “I wanted to work in sewing— both to improve my English and continue my work. I had a sewing shop in Afghanistan, and I would like to use those skills here. I like working with people. And that there is a good feeling among people and it encourages me to try harder and work better. My goal is that I like to enter the society and enjoy the results of my work, and it is still very enjoyable for me to improve my language and to be with people.”
