Social integration of young refugees through arts & cultural place-making

The Art of Belonging project brought together academic researchers, city leaders, artists and young refugees in order to explore ways in which the impact of social isolation experienced by newly arrived forced migrants could be lessened. It was based on the premise that participation in the arts can enhance place-making and encourage social belonging. 

The primary research question asked: 

How can place-specific arts and cultural initiatives help young refugees to develop a sense of belonging, and increase participation in the civic, social and cultural life of their new cities?

The young participants, many of them unaccompanied children, worked with artists and cultural venues to consider what it is to ‘belong’ in their new city. We were interested in understanding how to enable young refugees and migrants to build connections with their new place such that they can go on to lead lives of meaningful engagement in their city. This concern relates to identity formation, but is also coupled with the development of skills, social connections and cultural capital that young people are able to mobilise as they become cultural citizens in their new cities. 

Research was conducted in the cities of Nottingham in the UK and Lund in Sweden.

The findings speak to issues of integration, representation of youth, and the role arts and culture can play in individual and collective mental wellbeing.

The project culminated in two Art of Belonging exhibitions held in civic cultural locations within the two hosting cities: the New Art Exchange gallery in Nottingham and the Museum Kulturen in Lund.