LOCAL COLLABORATIONS IN LONDON

STREATHAM WOMEN’S SEWING GROUP

Project Coordinators: Ifrah Odawa & Fion Gunn

The Streatham Women’s Sewing group was established in 2009 with the following aims:

• To establish a sewing group for Somali women and others resident in Streatham which focuses on the traditional beadwork and embroidery practised in the culture.

Over the many years of war, famine and immigration many younger Somali women who have lost their mothers or been separated from them have not been able to learn these skills. Some of the women who have these skills are now willing to teach others in order to encourage the growth of the craft industry amongst the community. Ifrah Odawa has initiated contacts with a circle of Somali women in Streatham, she is a skilled craftswoman and she is responsible for delivering the adult education component of the project.

• To produce collaborative artworks of exceptional quality which can be exhibited at Somali and other cultural events, thereby showcasing the skills of the community and celebrating their artistic and aesthetic skill.

This aspect of the project is crucial in raising the profile of the Somali community in a positive way with the wider community. Fion Gunn is the lead artist for this part of the project. It will be a means of interesting the non-Somali public in fundamental aspects of Somali Culture – food and craftwork and these are areas with which the vast majority of people can engage. Artistic collaboration is at the heart of this idea and it is hoped that artists from within the Somali community will also come forward over time to be involved in future projects.

Fion and Ifrah are currently preparing for a project called ‘Somali Feast’ and will present the finished multi-media artwork at the Streatham Festival in July 2010 and at the Morley Gallery in June 2011