Arabic and Farsi speaking newcomers invited to participate in “Stories at Home – Past and Present” art project

12 July 2021

Newcomers to Richmond who speak Arabic and Farsi are invited to join artist Jean Bradbury for “Stories at Home – Past and Present.” This unique, community-based public art project is based on what participants miss from their past home and what they love about their current life in Richmond.

This 10-week project, made up of a small cohort of participants sharing stories of home, culture and community, will include free weekly art workshops to create simple comic book style drawings—a combination of painting and drawing. A final legacy artwork will be created and presented in collaboration at the end of October.

Workshops will be held every Saturday from August 7 through October 16, 2021 from 10 a.m. to noon at Richmond Multicultural Community Services (#210-7000 Minoru Boulevard). All ages are welcome. Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult. These workshops will take place outdoors at Brighouse Park or Minoru Park in small groups with COVID-19 safety plans in place to ensure the safety of all participants, volunteers and staff. Language translators will also be present during the workshops with participants expected to attend 9 of the 11 workshops.

For more information and to register as a project participant, visit www.rmcs.bc.ca or call 604-279-7160.

For more information about Stories of Home – Past and Present, visit www.storiesofhome-pastandpresent.blogspot.com.

This project is presented by the City of Richmond in partnership with Richmond Multicultural Community Services and is part of the 2021 Engaging Artists in Community Program for Richmond Public Art.

About the artist
Jean Bradbury is a visual artist specializing in public murals. She has created installations celebrating the stories of diverse peoples from around the world. In 1999, she founded Safi Crafts to provide art, craft and entrepreneurial instruction to rural women in the Southern Jordan Valley. In 2012, she established Studio Syria to bring art and education opportunities to Syrians living as refugees in Jordan. For more information about the artist, visit www.jeanbradbury.com.