Nov 2024
New artwork created by artist Kurda Yar and the local refugee community was unveiled on Saturday 23rd November 2024 at Bath Spa Railway Station. During the summer, we facilitated free workshops for families, encouraging all ages to get creative. Working to the theme ‘Our Home’, the groups played with pens, watercolours and spray bottles to make brightly coloured imagery. Kurda encouraged the groups to be inspired by what Home meant to them, whether that was the people, the food or a safe space to rest.
Over 70 pieces of artwork were made, from which Kurda selected a few standalone images, and collaged the rest to create new artworks for the permanent display.
Severnside Community Rail Partnership have worked closely with Bath Welcomes Refugees to design and facilitate the project with the intention to help to make recently settled families feel valued and that they belong to the local community.
The project has been generously supported by Great Western Railway’s Customer and Community Improvement Fund and CrossCountry Trains’ Community Fund.
Great Western Railway Station Manager, Oana Apetroaie, said:
“This artwork will provide an eye-catching display for the thousands of customers passing through the station in the run-up to Christmas.
“We would like to congratulate artist Kurda Yar, Bath Welcomes Refugees and Severnside Community Rail Partnership for bringing such a meaningful project to fruition.”
Bath Welcomes Refugees Social events co-ordinator, Sara Barna said:
“The project has been a wonderful opportunity for positive representation of people Bath Welcomes Refugees supports. Everyone enjoyed participating in the workshops and their work has been beautifully combined and integrated into the finished pieces.”
Artist, Kurda Yar said:
“I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to facilitate this art project with Great Western Railway, Severnside Community Rail Partnership and Bath Welcomes Refugees. The art pieces beautifully convey the message that Bath welcomes refugees.”
