Refugee Resource is delighted to again collaborate with Old fire Station, Oxford.

The theme of International Women’s Day 2023 is ‘Embrace Equity’. Taking and exploring this theme, artist Mary Chamberlain worked with the Women’s Healing in Art programme and members of the Making Space Safe art collective to produce this series of artwork titled ‘A Beautiful View’. The idea is that from a high up window it is possible to see a beautiful view. However, as people are different sizes they will require different height boxes to stand on to appreciate the view in an equitable way. Similarly, we all need different types of adjustments to be able to reveal our potential in a fair and impartial way.

At the heart of this exhibition is the process behind it. The more experienced artists within the collective (artist Mary Chamberlain, Hajrah Ali and Jameela Shodunke from Refugee Resource) worked together to support and provide emotional and theoretical ‘boxes’ to enable those new to making artwork from within the Healing in Art programme.

“It has been wonderful seeing the artists respond to the theme ‘A Beautiful View’ for #Embrace Equity International Women’s Day 2023. Supporting those women newer to making art and experiencing with them how colour, form and paint can be used to create powerful pieces is a huge privilege. Thank you to the Healing in Art group, Making Space Safe art collective, Refugee Resource and Arts at the Old Firestation for this brilliant project.” – Mary Chamberlain

Refugee Resource supports refugees, asylum seekers and vulnerable migrants to help them heal from trauma and suffering, and to build new lives as part of Oxfordshire’s diverse community.