PROJEKT ENCOUNTER is our community engagement programme for refugees, asylum seekers and first generation migrants with little or no previous experience of theatre.
Since 2022 we’ve been running sessions in Kent, welcoming migrants with a passion for performing to join us for weekly workshops in a celebration of cultures, languages and experiences.
From January 2025, we will also be running sessions in London and Croydon, in partnership with Young Roots, a charity working with young refugees and asylum seekers aged 11-25.
"It was a very happy environment and I had a great time after 80 days alone in the camp."
(particpant 2024)
How can collective creative experiences help build a sense of belonging and community among a group of multilingual migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers? And how might applied theatre-makers and documentary filmmakers ethically collaborate with such a group?
These were some of the questions that sparked the beginning of a collaborative documentary project, made by an all-migrant/refugee crew of staff, students and alumni of the University of Kent’s School of Arts.
The resulting film is a self-reflexive account of the last three weeks of PROJEKT ENCOUNTER, including the last two workshops, followed by the final performance held in Summer 2024. In its self-reflexivity, the film also tries to raise and address questions regarding the politics of making such a film.
Watch this video from our pilot version of PROJEKT ENCOUNTER in 2022 to learn more about the programme and the impact on the participants:
‘You showed us that we could achieve what we want, we are better, more successful people than we thought we are.’
(participant, 2022)
You can support us.
We run an ambitious programme of activities to make brilliant art and to support the creativity of all migrants. But we can’t do it without you. If you can, please pledge your support and make it possible for us to keep going.
Thank you!
PROJEKT ENCOUNTER is generously supported by:
