I started volunteering in the kitchen of the café, last October with its high ceilings and wonderful wall of windows. Nottingham Refugee Forum may have once been a school and will have seen many communities come and go.
It is now a safe and welcoming place for many
Conversations towards the end of the year about making more of the space, between Café Host Hamish and myself, led to the idea of a mural. A lot had been done already; lighting, seating, and a designated children’s area, all made for a comfortable and functioning environment. But the high ceiling and walls still dominated, and a mural felt like a fantastic option to bring colour, life, warmth and joy into the space.
Conversations were key to the whole project. Café hosts Hamish and Hannah and Client Participation Worker Juliette supported the development of the mural as the seeds of ideas began to grow. They continued to grow through conversations with clients in the café; over coffee, waiting for an appointment, cooking, serving or enjoying lunches.
What was the café about? What was the Forum about?
Talking, supporting, living, laughing.
Time to watch, enquire and listen.
The mural needed to show all aspects of the Nottingham Refugee Forum. It is first and foremost an assistance and information centre, but offers so much more. I identified areas which I felt would help show this: the kitchen, the café, the garden, advice and the children’s area.
But the most valuable parts in all this are the people
The mural grew from conversations with everyone in the space, and some outside. Ideas evolved before I started painting, but also during the process as people talked about it. It was hard to finish as it grew and changed in those few weeks. As an artist I was looking at composition, flow, colour, light, perspective and an element of humour and energy! How do you capture the essence of a place, a mural alive with the colour, sounds, scents and silences… to evoke a sense of community, admittedly idealised, but still having integrity to illuminate the energy of people.
Conversations emerged about journeys, landscapes, memories, animals, music, food, plants, stories and laughter. People seemed to enjoy the spectacle of the scaffolding and painters, some joined us; some simply watched and chatted, some brought us drinks and cake. We had much positive and joyful feedback and questions.
I have memories of climbing the scaffold, the sun streaming in, the noise of lively chatter and smiles of people catching my eye. People asking to see drawings, asking to add a donkey. Interpretations and real engagement with the mural and painters. Their kindness and consideration. We took up a lot of space and it was a crowded room, but the interaction was wonderful.
The mural happened due to an amount of goodwill; support from scenic friends Kate and Sarah, the loan of equipment from Rocket Scenery, and support of the kitchen and café staff and volunteers and the whole of Nottingham Refugee Forum.
We hope to see you in the café sometime soon!