Arts For Afghanistan

As part of the ACAF Talking Peers program, in response to the recent regime change in Afghanistan (2021), the Arts for Afghanistan initiative supports Afghan artists and art professionals who have resettled in new European countries, the US, and beyond. Through practical, psychological, and professional development mentorship, the program assists individuals in navigating their new environments by hosting monthly online workshops featuring visiting artists and educators from diverse Asian regions. This initiative aims to foster connections and facilitate peer-to-peer mentorship, providing a forum for artistic knowledge and wisdom sharing and a supportive space for sustaining practices post-asylum.

Each Talking Peers session addresses disempowering beliefs and suppressed feelings associated with the immigration experience beyond coping mechanisms to promote mindfulness, consciousness, and resilience to help participants unlock their unique creative capacities through journaling exercises, creative assignments, and meditations. Encouraging a mindset that values the journey as much as the destination, Arts for Afghanistan promotes a ‘process over outcome’ philosophy when preparing participants for future opportunities. This approach extends to potential residencies, fellowships, exhibitions, invitations to collaborative projects, and various networking prospects. The program equips individuals with the resilience and adaptability needed to thrive in diverse artistic landscapes by cultivating a commitment to ongoing growth and creative exploration.