Paul Hamlyn Foundation-Media 19

Media 19 is one of the North East’s leading independent production companies.  It has a strong track record of working with young people through formal and informal education using factual and drama video and television production along with writing, photography, performance and digital new media.

In February 2006 the Foundation awarded Media 19 £45,000 over eighteen months for their Self Portrait Refugee project – an initiative that set out to inspire young refugees and asylum seekers to express and explore their identity by creating a self-portrait that captured issues in their lives, their immediate circumstances and past, present and future stories.

Media 19 put on artist-led workshops in partnership with RCOs across the North East of England.  At each workshop a range of artists, including asylum seekers, worked with young people, their families and communities. Over 150 refugees and asylum seekers took part in the sessions.

The ultimate goal of the project was to maximise positive messages to the general public about refugees and asylum seekers.  This was achieved by exhibiting some of the self-portraits on a giant billboard at Byker Metro Station in Newcastle’s East End. This enabled the wider public to witness the artistic talents of refugees and asylum seekers whilst gaining an insight into their experiences.

By working with some of their original funders, Arts Council England, Channel 4 and Northern Rock, along with the organisation Empowering Asylum Seekers to Integrate, Media 19 hopes to expand the project to other parts of the UK.

For further information, contact [email protected]