Dear friends,

As you may know, Refuge​e Art Project’s residency in Ashfield’s Thirning Villa Artist studio has been precarious over the last 2 years due to Inner West Council’s indecision over what they want for the space.

Yet thanks to the amazing support of our friends in the community, other art and cultural organisations and human rights supporters, Green’s counsellor Tom Kiat recently forwarded a motion requesting that Inner West Council endorse Refugee Art Project as a tenant in the Thirning Villa studio.

The council meeting will take place in a few days, on Tuesday, 5th October, and we need your support!

Some background:

Refugee Art Project is a not-for-profit community art organisation dedicated to supporting people of an asylum seeker or refugee background through art workshops, public exhibitions, community events and public education on the refugee issue. Founded in late 2010, our organisation has held hundreds of events over the last decade, engaging with numerous communities in Sydney’s inner west and beyond, including International human rights institutions and art festivals.

Please sign this petition showing you endorse the motion for Refugee Art Project to have a secure tenancy in the Thirning Villa studio. If Inner West Council favours the motion our studio will continue to function (covid-permitting) as a welcoming creative community space. It will continue to host art exhibitions, fairs, open days, markets, and public talks which advocate for diversity, inclusion and human rights. The studio will contribute to the diverse cultural life of Sydney’s Inner West, as well as to important international collaborations and art exhibitions.

Are you an Inner West Resident? Go One Step Further!

Sending Councillors direct emails is a really effective way to make sure we are heard.

Here is a template email. Feel free to tweak it if you like.
We’d be particularly grateful for people who live in Sydney’s Inner West to remind their council members of how important organisation like Refugee Art Project are in fostering harmony and greater community feeling.

Check out the Councillor for your ward and their contact details

*NOTES ON DONATION*

Change.org may ask you after signing the petition to 'chip in' this money doesn't go to the Refugee Art Project. It is used by Change.org to 'promote' the post. 
If you do want to make a donation we recommend giving directly to the current fundraiser. 

Image credit: 'Isolation' by Mohammad.