What are Sanctuary in Arts Awards?
The Sanctuary in Arts Awards celebrate arts organisations who go above and beyond to welcome people seeking sanctuary, raise awareness and celebrate talent within migrant communities.
Whether you work at an art gallery, theatre, cinema, museum or studio, we can recognise, celebrate and support you to sustain a culture of solidarity, understanding and compassion.
The key criteria for the awards are:
- Learn: find out what it means to be seeking sanctuary; and be actively involved in awareness raising.
- Embed: take positive action to make welcome and inclusion part of the values of your organisation or community, to support sanctuary seekers and refugees, and to include them in your activities.
- Share your vision and achievements: let others know about the positive contribution refugees make to our society and the benefits of a welcoming culture to everyone.
How to apply:
Any organisation in the UK can apply. There is no fee.
- Review the key criteria and the application form to assess what work you might need to undertake to become an Arts of Sanctuary organisation.
- Sign the organisational pledge to demonstrate your support for our vision.
- Get in touch with us at [email protected]
- We will set up an appraisal process involving an arts expert (where possible) and a person with lived experience in seeking sanctuary. We will be looking to see supporting evidence to verify your application.
- You will need to demonstrate:
- The actions taken to promote a culture of sanctuary within your organisation.
- Your plans to make this an ongoing and sustainable endeavour.
- Your plans to make your services more accessible for refugees and asylum seekers.
- The commitment of the community of the organisation (including staff in all areas e.g. artists, actors and producers, curators, patrons, audience, client representatives etc.) to promoting sanctuary at all levels of its life.
- The plans to take the concept of becoming an arts organisation of sanctuary to other similar organisations and partners within the world of culture and the arts.
- The evidence will then be evaluated by a group which could include trustees, local and national City of Sanctuary representatives and people with lived experience. Suggestions may be made as a result of this evaluation. The award will be made at a mutually agreed public forum and displayed in a public place such as the reception or foyer. It will then be reviewed at agreed intervals.
