16th September 2024
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is delighted to be displaying Oliver Jeffers Seen Exhibition as part of Good Relations Week celebrations. The exhibition, co-created by Oliver Jeffers and a group of asylum-seeking children and young people, will be on display in Trust hospital and community sites.
This year, Good Relations Week embraces ‘OpportUNITY’ as a call to action to create a brighter, inclusive future for all. Showcasing the collaborative drawings developed by the Oliver Jeffers Studio, Anaka’s Women’s Collective, Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR) and South Belfast MLA Kate Nicholl, is just one of the events Belfast Trust is hosting to mark the week.
Seen shines a light on the stories of society’s most vulnerable. Produced by Nerve Centre for Belfast 2024, the collaborative exhibition gives a powerful impression of what is important to young people who have fled other countries, revealing how they wish to be seen.
Orla Barron, Interim Co-Director of Planning and Equality said:
“The opportunity to present Oliver Jeffers signature sketches illustrating the stories of children seeking asylum served as a timely reminder of the importance of compassion and solidarity with society’s most vulnerable.
We are committed to providing not only the highest standards of care but also a sense of belonging for everyone who uses our services. We are determined to continue championing inclusivity, ensuring that our spaces are open and welcoming to all, reflecting the diversity of the communities across Belfast.”
Illuminating lives between the margins, Seen declares that no child will be forgotten. In 2023, artist Oliver Jeffers and asylum-seeking children shared a magical day of drawing and storytelling, with each child was encouraged to draw something they love, value or desire.
Artist and Exhibition Creator, Oliver Jeffers explained:
“Each child’s drawing formed the basis of the portraits on display. Meeting children who endure such significant hardships yet remain remarkably kind and joyful was nothing short of inspiring. We intend to celebrate their incredible lives through this exhibition.
The way to judge a civilisation is how it treats its most vulnerable members. We must continue to elevate the voices of those marginalised in our society. This small act is incomparable to the wealth of love and enrichment refugees bring to local communities.”
The Seen Exhibition will be on display for a month in Belfast Trust Health and Wellbeing Centres and the Royal Victoria Hospital, running from 16th September to 16th October.
The Seen project was organised by Oliver Jeffers Studio, South Belfast MLA Kate Nicholl, Anaka’s Women’s Collective and Participation and the Practice of Rights (PPR). The Seen outdoor exhibition was produced by Nerve Centre for Belfast 2024.