Culture, Arts and Refugees

Liz Orton Project Manager, Photovoice

Biography

Liz Orton is an arts manager who for the last four years has managed PhotoVoice’s Moving Lives project which aims to assist the integration of young refugees through photography. The most recent phase of this project involved a photographic mentoring scheme in which 15 young refugees were mentored by established and emerging photographers to make a body of creative work. The work is currently being put together as a collection of writing and images to be published by award-winning Trolley in Autumn 2008.

Liz is a keen photographer. Most of her work is currently of her young family –aged 1, 3 and 6. She also photographs beaches in Devon and is slowly entering the digital age by trying to master PhotoShop.

Liz’s background is in research and policy. She managed the Advocacy and Education unit for VSO, and has also worked for Christian Aid and ActionAid.

PLN Experience

Being part of a refugee arts network has given me a sense of being part of a wider movement of organizations dedicated to bringing participatory arts to young refugees. I have enjoyed the practice-based dialogues and exchanges immensely, especially those around ethics and engagement. Seeing each other regularly has really helped cut through the mysteries and boundaries and brought us closer together. Being part of such a large network requires good listening skills and I’ve really enjoyed being able to listen to others and learn from their different styles and ways of working. Our conversations about the role of personal stories and personal testimonies in participatory arts were very stimulating.

I have a much keener sense than ever before of the need for us to take the lead in establishing recognised standards of ethical practice to help inform the work of all the new practitioners and organisations entering this field of work.

There is a real sense of opportunity which has come from having such a diverse group of organisations – representing most corners of the UK – identify the need to increase the impact of our work by beginning to develop an advocacy-based voice. The challenges of doing this are manifold – and we probably need to bring in skills from elsewhere – but it could bring a very exciting sense of purpose to the group.

There is a real need now for the network both to expand – to incorporate other leading organizations in the field – and to commit to the idea of making an impact in the sector and beyond.

Study Visit Report

Click here to read Liz’s Study Visit Report

http://www.photovoice.org/