RANN (Refugee Artists Network, Norwich)

19th February 2025

Refugee Week Norwich is thrilled to launch a brand new Artists’ networking group for creative refugees, asylum seekers and isolated migrants in our city!

RANN – Refugee Artists Network, Norwich – aims to bring together makers who may be very diverse in their forms of art, backgrounds, expressions, languages, cultures etc… BUT unite in creativity and desire to network, socialise, organise, develop, and maybe even show their work. All will have lived experience of seeking sanctuary in Norwich, or being a new community member.

We hope that RANN will:

1. Encourage the development of each artists’ individual practice, led by their needs
2. Amplify a united presence: bookable artists, sales of work, group show ready collections of work
3. Host online portfolios: representing active artists in Norwich with lived experience of seeking sanctuary
4. Hold in-person meet-ups: Networking, social time, in-person support, training or talks… or whatever people say they want the group to offer
5. Send regular updates about relevant opportunities; one-off or ongoing skills building or social sessions, exhibitions / calls to exhibit / private views, grants etc.

RANN hopes to become a group made up of :

4. Norwich based artists, with lived experience of being an asylum seeker, refugee, or considering themselves to be an isolated migrant
5. Ages 16+
6. Practicing any medium

For more information, to apply to join RANN, or for any enquiries please contact Alaine using: development@newroutes.org.uk 

Alaine Mukene-Drew, Refugee Week Norwich Coordinator, said:

“I am thrilled to reveal this new network, which we are setting up as part of the RWN legacy.

Last year we hosted such a fantastic group exhibition at Anteros, over our ‘Refugee Three Weeks’. It showcased 6-months of lead-in workshops at New Routes led by Art and Work. It also featured input from UEA (University of Sanctuary), and by individual artists. It was a wonderful show which showed so many talents, cultures, perspectives and works from different  ages!  We also hosted various free art workshops where participants mingled with the public. We did make a sale too, of the stunning painting Uzbec Girl.

The more I talked to people the more hidden talents unveiled. I thought about the galleries which I found hard to get into, about the group shows and art showcases where you pay to be included etc. I looked at the applications to develop artistic practise, or fund art projects, the studios for hire and difficulty accessing media coverage. If I find all that hard to break into then how much more so would it challenge those new to this country.

So with the small underspend from last year’s RWN funding I am proposing to establish…  RANN.”

Posted in: News, Refugee Week