In from the Margins will create the first network of Studios of Sanctuary in Europe, offering opportunities for 30 artists from refugee and migrant backgrounds to take up supported residencies in internationally recognised print studios. Led by Edinburgh Printmakers, the €178,000 Creative Europe funded project connects the UK's first open access print studio with Cork Printmakers, Ireland; Aga Lab, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Funen Printmaking Studio, Odense, Denmark; and International Centre of Graphic Arts, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
The residency programme will further develop the 'Studios of Sanctuary' model, which originated in Yorkshire in response to the work of migrant artist Mohammad Barrangi, an artist and former paralympian from Iran who became resident artist at The Art House in Wakefield, in a range of contexts across Europe.
Mohammad Barrangi working in Edinburgh Printmakers' studio
Funded by Creative Europe, In from the Margins is a European programme of Studios of Sanctuary residencies that provides: supported workspaces for artists from refugee and migrant backgrounds; exchanges of their work; and engagement with refugee, schools and wider communities. Work with refugee and migrant artists is currently largely focused on outreach and engagement programmes of major galleries. The project will bring this work 'in from the margins' to mainstream programming.
Throughout the residency programme Edinburgh Printmakers will be welcoming refugee and migrant communities in the studios to engage with resident artists, to share their own stories and create new work which will be shared between our project members and the wider visual arts community in Europe. The programme will culminate in a group exhibition at Edinburgh Printmakers in spring 2023.
An engagement programme with refugees, schools and wider communities will be running alongside the residencies. The contribution that refugees and migrant communities make to wider society will be celebrated also through exchanges of their work, exhibitions and multi-disciplinary events.
Speaking as the Call for artists was announced, Edinburgh Printmakers CEO Janet Archer said:
“In from the Margins seeks to break down barriers and create opportunities for refugee artists and local communities to share and to learn from each other while being supported by the resources and expertise of print studios. Following delays as a result of the coronavirus pandemic we are delighted to finally be able to welcome refugee artists to our home at Castle Mills. The project emerged from discussions between the partners, all print studios with civic aims which are based in multicultural cities on the margins of Europe. Our residency programme will further develop the 'Studios of Sanctuary' model, which originated in Yorkshire in response to the work of migrant artist Mohammad Barrangi, an artist and former paralympian from Iran who became resident artist at The Art House in Wakefield, in a range of contexts across Europe. The emphasis of the project is to platform artists, bringing them from the margins to the heart of mainstream cultural programming. It is about supporting them to develop their practice and make high quality work, and platforming this work to wider audiences. We’re also delighted to be able to confirm Mohammad Barrangi’s exhibition Wonderland will be the first solo show at Edinburgh Printmakers in 2022.”
Artist Mohammad Barrangi said:
“I arrived in Wakefield in 2018 and my time at the studio in The Art House was a very hopeful and motivating moment for me. Arriving in the UK as a newcomer and being able to continue my artistic work made a huge difference. The circumstances of the residency that were given to me made continuing my artistic career so much easier. Projects like In from the Margins are very promising and fruitful for people arriving in a new country as immigrants."
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