Refugees and students collaborate for mural drawing

Students joined refugees and asylum seekers at the centre where together, in a live drawing event, they shared skills and created large-scale artworks to decorate the walls of the space.

The workshop coincided with St David’s Day, adding an element of Welsh culture to the theme of ‘Celebration’ that the participants were asked to explore in their drawings. The university said many people joined in, and everyone involved had a fantastic day.

The artworks created by the students and refugees are now displayed at the Oasis Centre, and the University has made plans to continue the collaboration by hosting a printing workshop at their Dynevor Campus and a summer festival at the Oasis Centre in Cardiff.

Anais Gauci, Illustration student at UWTSD said: “We received a very warm welcome from everyone at the Oasis Centre, and myself and the other students were grateful to hear their captivating stories. Hearing about such different experiences really enhanced my understanding of their situation and it was wonderful to connect with everyone in the room through art.”

Jonathan Williams, Illustration lecturer at UWTSD said: “We were immensely proud of how the students and refugees engaged with each other and the workshops in what was a creative and pleasurable day for everyone involved. It was lovely to see the students sharing their skills to create a collaborative mural, which will remind visitors at the centre what they can achieve.”

(Lead image: UWTSD)