Why I Make Art With and For My Community?

As a textile artist, I’ve always felt drawn to the kind of work that brings people together. There’s something powerful about creating with others—especially when it’s for a cause bigger than ourselves. That’s why I love community art projects, and why I’m proud to be part of this one supporting Wandsworth Welcomes Refugees during Refugee Week.

This year’s theme, “Community is My Superpower,” really speaks to me. For so many people—especially refugees—community is what holds us up when the world feels heavy. It’s what makes a strange place feel like home.

I’m an expatriate myself. I chose to leave my country, but even then, it wasn’t easy. For refugees, the decision often isn’t a choice—it’s survival. People are forced to leave everything behind. And then, too often, they’re met with silence, suspicion, or outright racism.

That’s why projects like this matter. They’re more than just Art&crafts workshops. They’re spaces where we say, you matter, you are welcome, and we see you. They’re a chance to slow down, create together, and make something that carries a message of solidarity and hope.

When we stitch or decorate capes in this project, we’re not just decorating fabric. We’re telling a story: that kindness is powerful, that community matters, and that we all have a role to play in building a more welcoming world.

Art won’t fix everything. But it can remind us who we are—and who we want to be. And sometimes, that’s the first step.

So let’s keep showing up. Let’s be the change we want to see in the world.