Overview
Project title:
Home Sweet Home Exhibition
Project Location:
The Public, West Bromwich
Date of Project:
November 2008 - Jan 2009
Project Participants:
Participants identified by the following organisations:
Sandwell Women’s Aid
SWAN Community Carelink
Breakaway Challengers Project
Project Funders:
Sandwell MBC
Supported by the Working Neighbourhoods Fund
Project Overview:
‘Home Sweet Home’ was an exhibition held at The Public in West Bromwich to give a public voice to local people living through domestic abuse.
The ambition of the project was also to increase the profile of support organisations working against domestic violence within the Sandwell borough and promote their hard work and dedication, as well as to raise local people’s awareness of these issues. The project coincided with the International White Ribbon Day on 25 November 2008, as part of a global campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse.
Multistory was commissioned by Sandwell Organisations Against Domestic Abuse (SOADA) to explore participants’ experiences and understanding of domestic abuse and to interpret these into visual and written messages using their illustrations and words.
Each unique artwork was then printed onto an item of clothing, e.g. t-shirts for adults and children, an apron, a baby bib and pegged out on to a washing line, with a fictitious garden backdrop, to recreate a ‘perfect’ domestic setting and this formed the exhibition at The Public. However, the artworks told a different story, mirroring the experiences of what can happen ‘behind closed doors’.
Further info.
Contact details for domestic abuse support groups in Sandwell:
Sandwell Organisations Against Domestic Violence (SOADA)
For advice and guidance on domestic abuse
t: 0845 359 7525
e: soada@sandwell.gov.uk
www.sandwell.gov.uk
Sandwell Women’s Aid
Support Group for women and children
24hr Helpline: 0121 552 6448
Community Services: 0121 553 0090
e: teresa@sandwellwomensaid.co.uk
www.sandwellwomensaid.co.uk
SWAN Community Carelink
Support Group for vulnerable people
t: 0121 553 7074
e: swanlink@live.com
www.swan-communitycarelink.co.uk
Breakaway Challengers
Support Group for 11-14 year old boys
Contact: Laura Nott
e: laura@murrayhall.co.uk
www.murrayhall.co.uk
Gallery
Click on the link below to download the Home Sweet Home exhibition catalogue.
Home Sweet Home Catalogue (PDF) 2.6MB
Click on the link below to listen to supporting statements against domestic abuse from men living and working in Sandwell.
Below are a selection of images from the Home Sweet Home exhibition.
Feedback
The following evaluation material was collated from the participants.
Has creating thoughts and ideas for your artwork made you think about your situation or changed you in anyway? Please tell us what they are and why.
- Expressing your feelings on paper about your life.
- Yes it has changed me a bit; it’s made me think positively.
- It’s good to be able to express situations caused by domestic abuse and brings more awareness.
- The way males/females in domestic issues should be treated the same.
- It’s made me realise things about my life, the past and the future.
Do you think that the exhibition and your artwork will raise an awareness of domestic abuse in Sandwell? Please tell us why or why not.
- Yes it will because it expresses your thoughts.
- It would raise an awareness to the people who don’t know much about domestic abuse.
- I hope it will make people more aware that they are in a domestic abuse situation as most people think it’s physical when it can be mental.
- I’d like to think it would; however these ideas have been used for a long time. I think it will reassure victims that people do understand and that they aren’t alone.
- Yes it will make people realise that it does happen!
Partner Statements
“Three of the boys from the project worked with Multistory to express some of the images of domestic abuse that were inside their heads. They went from saying things like “I can’t draw” to “That looks wicked!” when they saw their final pieces of work. All the boys thoroughly enjoyed the project and wished it was an ongoing weekly group. They have benefited by developing confidence in their artistic abilities and by having the space to think about new ways of communicating their feelings.
To have their work exhibited in The Public is a huge esteem-booster for boys who have had tough times and don’t traditionally engage with community arts projects. Personally, I found it a great project to be involved in and would love to develop closer links with Multistory for future arts projects around domestic abuse.”
Laura Nott, Project Co-ordinator of Breakaway Challengers
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