ARTWOMCULTURE is all about bringing women from different cultures together in creative work, showing them ways to create and process experiences through art, and simply strengthening their sense of community.

Project period:  2018-2024

Women often see themselves as the link between family, friends and social life; they maintain networks and often work behind the scenes. The aim of the project is to present each woman’s personality and emotional experiences to the public through their artwork, thereby demonstrating that art can be a voice for everyone. The project reaches a special target group: Ukrainian women refugees, who process their experiences of flight with the help of art therapy. Integration into the host society is strengthened through joint work on artworks. The methods of empowerment learned and the knowledge about the structures of local cultural life are passed on by the participants in their family environment.

Women from other cultures are particularly reluctant to assert their skills and talents with confidence in a foreign public sphere. As a result, many women with a migrant background do not dare to take on new challenges, whether it be a job, training or simply having their qualifications recognised. The project’s measures boost women’s self-confidence and help them decide to use their talents for training, a career or voluntary work.

The project is funded by the KOMM AN NRW state programme of the Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees and Integration of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.