Celebration, Unity, Connection & Courage
This September and October Space2b is presenting a month-long series of exciting programs at our Feels Like Home Online Festival. Specially curated to provide the community with a platform to connect and embrace our shared humanity, we hope to bring together everyone during this difficult time through a multicultural celebration of art, culture and cuisine.
Space2b founders Mariam and Janine will kick off this fun with an inspirational live session at 6 pm on Friday 17th September where they will share their personal tales, the origins of Space2b, how to set up a social enterprise and much more. The festival will run until Friday 15th October, with an assortment of activities being presented every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, including meet and connect sessions with creative makers, artists and designers and the sharing of best-loved (and best kept) family recipes from our wider community that will get you flying across the world sampling mouthwatering new flavours.
We have also invited a line of incredible guests to host workshops or live sessions every Friday to get your creative juices flowing. Highlights include a live cooking class with the wonderful Sadhna Wilson of Fijian and Indian background where you will learn to make Bhajiya (Pakoras) and a live Q&A with the renowned silo artist Heesco whose works span across the whole of Victoria.
Space2b’s Artspace Gallery will present Circles of Intricacy, an exhibition by refugee artists mother-daughter duo Anahita Diba and Maryam Diba. Originally from Iran, the Diba family spent 6 years in detention on Nauru before settling in Melbourne. Selected pieces from Face2Face – an innovative program that brings together culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) emerging and established artists together to co-create new works whilst exchanging skills and building cultural connections will also be on view. The works can be found here.
‘Art has given me something to wake up for and being involved with Space2b has made me feel good about myself. I’ve made new friends, feel more confident and I feel I belong to something important. ‘ Anahita Diba
We at Space2b believe that despite the sufferings, disappointments and frustration that have been accumulating throughout the long months, this is a chance for us to be part of something bigger than ourselves, a chance for us to rekindle the kindness and compassion that we all have deep down for one another that we have forgotten every now and then.
The festival is kindly supported by The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing of The Victorian State Government.
‘We are an open, grassroots organisation where newly arrived migrants and refugees and local, community based designers can come together to exchange knowledge, ideas and skills.
We provide a safe and supportive environment to build relationships and acquire, develop and share creative and business skills.
We use a strength-based approach that builds on capability and self-reliance as well as fostering positive change and cultural understanding.
We provide a structural framework and workspace for participants to achieve their personal goals.
We are a platform for participants to launch their business and promote and sell their work.’
We have a number of core programs that we run here at Space2b:
Space2work – provides on the job work opportunities, training and work skill development for refugees and migrants from CALD (Culturally & Linguistically Diverse) backgrounds
Space2fly – is a personalised mentor and training program in art and design, which includes creative and business development, enabling participants to become creative business owners
We also have a number of activities for newly arrived migrants and refugees to connect with the local community including festivals, art projects and meet up groups, film nights and workshops etc.
I would add that to me personally, Space2b is a space where whoever comes through its doors are trusted and allowed to be vulnerable, and that it is about providing that safe space and opportunity so people can feel confident about who they are and what they do.
