In early March, the Artscape team took part in trauma-informed practice training led by Art Refuge, a UK-based organisation working at the intersection of socially engaged art and art therapy.
During the three-day training, the Artscape team explored Art Refuge’s approaches to working with people who have experienced trauma. The sessions examined how traumatic experiences can affect a person’s well-being, behaviour and communication, particularly in the context of forced displacement.
Through practical exercises and discussions, the team also explored ways of creating safe, respectful and supportive environments where everyone can feel seen, heard and valued.
Art Refuge uses socially engaged art and art therapy to support the mental health and well-being of people who have experienced displacement as a result of conflict, persecution or poverty, both in the UK and internationally. Founded in 2006, the organisation has in recent years focused particularly on people on the move, working on both sides of the English Channel – in Calais and Kent – as well as in Paris, London, Bristol and other locations.
The training forms part of Artscape’s ongoing commitment to developing a more sensitive, informed and responsible approach to working with diverse communities. The knowledge and practices gained through the training will be incorporated into both current and future projects.
Beyond strengthening the team’s professional skills, the training contributes to Artscape’s broader goal of creating cultural spaces and practices that are more open, attentive and responsive to people’s different experiences.
We thank the Art Refuge team for sharing their knowledge, experience and practices, and for this valuable collaboration.
March 22, 2026