Ernest Truely invites asylum seekers to imagine in Kuopio

Media release 16.2.2017

Ernest Truely has been chosen to direct ANTI Festival’s community arts project for asylum seekers. The open call for artists closed on 15th January. Truely will work in Kuopio for the first time between
21st and 23rd February 2017.

Ernest Truely is an artist and educator from the United States, based in Helsinki. He is experienced in working with various communities in Finland, Estonia and the U.S. In Kuopio, Truely will direct workshops for a group of youngsters, both men who have recently been granted with asylum in Finland and Finnish men. The workshops will be arranged throughout the year 2017, and the artistic content will be presented in the programme of ANTI – Contemporary Festival in September 2017.

The participants of the project will gain awareness of strategies in using social media to develop characters, narratives, performance for the camera, digital imaging, video editing and production. They are invited to imagine new possibilities and be active creators.

The project is a part of the New Start Finland! research project at the University of Eastern Finland. New Start Finland! is researching ways to promote health, wellbeing and integration of adult asylum seekers. In February, Truely will meet with members of the project’s target group and work in collaboration with ANTI Festival and the research group of the University.

Further information: Festival Manager Elisa Itkonen, elisa@antifestival.com, +358 50 305 2005