Intercultural Arts has been busy teaming up creative Refugees and Asylum seekers with regional professional artists and art organisations in order to develop North East refugee arts in exciting and innovative ways.

Yesterday, we escorted Shahin Borhanzehi to an empty Eldon Square shop unit to introduce her to her new Buddy Project cohorts, Hannah Marsden from Situation Rhubarb and Rachel Maloney, an artist/photographer who’ll be working closely with Shahin.  We are very much looking forward to receiving the ongoing project documentation and photo diaries, and to see how the exhibitions, performances and activities are realised - Updates coming soon.

The aim is to equip refugees with the contacts and knowledge to realise their artistic ambitions making the arts in the northeast a more diverse and vibrant arena. This strand of activity compliments our mission to support artists in their creative and professional development as well as offering another valuable perspective on the work of current regional arts and cultural activity. Situation Rhubarb will work with Shahin to set up a programme of activities, events and meetings to fast track her into the heart of t he local arts scene.

Shahin Borhanzehi, is a refugee from Iran. Shahin worked extensively in cultural heritage and crafts of regions in the world, with specialism in Balouch women’s craft. Shahin will be helping Situation Rhubarb in many aspects of the exhibition, with a special focus working with their current Associate Artist, Rachel Maloney.

Situation Rhubarb invites you to explore the meaning of borders and boundaries in todays increasingly connected world. Borders Project: A Space Between comprises a group exhibition in Eldon Square, a residency project in Morden Tower, a live performance, and group discussions. Presenting new work by emerging artists from the region alongside artists from London, Manchester and Gresford, the project incorporates a range of voice s, which approach the subject from political, geographical, personal and psychological viewpoints.

The exhibition will occupy an empty unit in the shopping centre and will involve photography, installation, film and sound. Newcastle based James Sebright will present a series of photographs that respond to the border region between Scotland and England and record th e traces of human activity. Rosie Skett, who recently graduated from Newcastle University, has created a video installation that documents her street in Fenham to examine the cityscape and its intimacy, and how the architecture creates borders and boundaries between its inhabitants. Also examining our concept of personal space, Kate Stobbart has been documenting overheard mobile phone conversations over the last month to form the basis of a new piece of work that explores the public/private boundary.

The exhibition also includes work by three artists from outside the region. London based James Cant will present a s eries of photographic portraits of people who have migrated to England by sea, using the sea and tide as metaphors to consider the inherent divisions of time, space and self. Paul R Jones from Gresford, which is positioned at the boundary between England and Wales, will present a series of films that document personal and public interactions with borders. Flora Robertson, a recent graduate from Wimbledon College of Art, will use mixed-media drawing and installation to consider the relationship between geographical/political displacement and psychological fragmentation, examining the border in terms of barriers to understanding.

A series of public events will accompany the exhibition to create further opportunities for people to meet the artists and engage with the subject. louie+jesse, an artist duo based in Manchester, will spend one week in Newcastle researching and responding to the borders of the city and in particular the unique spatial and acoustic qualities of Morden Tower, which is located on the historical boundary of the city. All Across the Telegraphs comprising Martin Heslop, Julia Heslop and Lindsay Rodden, will present a new performance that tells the story of border crossings and explores the movement of people, the plurality of cultural identity, and the transmigration of religion and culture, back and forth. Throughout the e xhibition Rachel Maloney will conduct a photographic research project. She will be inviting people take part in workshops/discussions to explore their relationship to their own personal photographs. Full details of the events programme will be announced very soon.

All events are free and everyone is welcome.

Borders Project exhibition: 16 Feb - 7 March @ Eldon Square (Monument entrance, opposite The British Heart Foundation)

Residency end event:
Tuesday 21 February, louie+jesse at Morden Tower

Discussion/Workshop:
Saturday 25 February, with Rachel Maloney

Performance:
Friday 2 March, All Across the Telegraphs, You Can Take it With You