An exhibition of artwork created by the Refugee Roots Art Club, presented as part of Nottingham Refugee Week 2025. The theme of Refugee Week 2025 is “Community as a Superpower.”
Refugees have been taking part in weekly workshops held at City Arts, led by artist Márcia Porto. Over the course of five sessions, they explored the Refugee Week theme. Márcia explains:
Participants explored this idea through the theme “building bridges”, a metaphor for expressing community as a transformative force. Drawing on their emotionally significant memories as a key resource, and within a calm and welcoming environment, they engaged in painting, drawing, bricolage, and collaborative expanded drawing experiences. Fostering hope and connection, these experiences awakened feelings of closeness and community. The result is a visual trace of encounters, stories, and bridges built through the imagination of those who came together to explore community as a source of strength.
About Refugee Roots
Refugee Roots is a Nottingham-based Christian charity that provides support and connection for asylum seekers and refugees as they begin new lives in the UK. The organisation offers a warm welcome to people from all backgrounds, valuing the richness of each person’s culture and identity. Committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, Refugee Roots creates a safe and respectful environment where individuals feel seen, heard, and supported. Through practical help and community-building activities, they empower people to navigate complex systems and begin to rebuild their lives with confidence and dignity.
About Márcia Porto
Márcia Porto is a Brazilian artist-educator based in Nottingham. She facilitates creative processes that value listening, memory, and visual expression, with an emphasis on developing poetic thinking. Her work fosters inclusive and collaborative spaces that celebrate diversity and creativity as powerful tools for social transformation.
