Case study - working with newly arrived artists

Liverpool Migrant Resource Centre

Gorkem Acaroglu is the Cultural Programs Coordinator at Liverpool Migrant Resource Centre (LMRC) . The MRC is one of the first ports of call for professional migrant and refugee artists arriving in Australia.

Gorkem’s project has successfully assisted many artists receive funding, access resources, services and join relevant networks. Most importantly the project has assisted these artists to exhibit.

Manzour Razaghi was able to enter a Masters Course in multimedia after finishing this course in Digital Arts that was organised by the Liverpool Migrant Resource Centre, with funds from DEET. The course was run by Metro Screen. A Digital Arts course for 10 newly arrived artists.

Rebwar Khalid is a Kurdish artist who has exhibited widely across Europe, but has only been able to get only one exhibition up in Australia.This exhibition was organised by the Liverpool MRC. He has left Australia now for this reason.

Self Marketing: This Self Marketing course was coordinated by the Liverpool Migrant Resource Centre in partnership with Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre for 10 NESB visual artists.

Shohrat Tursun, an Uygur musician very well known in Japan and China, has not been able to get any significant employment in Sydney, other than a Carnivale concert coordinated by LMRC for him last year. He now works full time as a labourer.

Mustapha Shearzad specializes in Afghani miniatures on tiles. His particular talent is not recognised or in demand here,which has led him to work mainly as a CCD artist making mosaics and murals.

Falaka Yimer, an Ethiopian artist with over 30 years experience, and recognition in Europe, USA, Middle East and Africa was working in a print maker’s shop in the CBD for a number of years as an apprentice. LMRC eventually assisted him to get work at Campbelltown Gallery, where he is currently holding his first Australian solo exhibition. He now also works at TAFE.