How do artists use their practice to tell stories about displacement? How does their own experience of displacement influence their artistic practice?

Join the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute (HCRI), in celebration of Refugee Week, for a conversation with two leading creatives Diala Brisly and Akeim Toussaint Buck on how they use their respective practice to tell their own and others' stories, raise awareness, challenge, and educate.

This online event will be co-chaired by Drs Róisín Read, Lecturer in Peace and Conflict Studies and Antoine Burgard, Lecturer in Contemporary History of Humanitarianism at HCRI.

Diala Brisly

Diala is an interdisciplinary artist born in Kuwait, raised in Damascus, and now living in France as a refugee. She started as cartoonist at the Syrian-based Spacetoon channel in 2001 but her career has since spanned over a variety of mediums and capacities, including layout design, animation, concept art, painting, comic books, and character design. She now focuses more on education initiatives with Syrian children and refugees more broadly. Since 2014, she has been working in refugee camps and alternative education centres between Lebanon and Turkey making murals and organising art workshops for children and adults.

Akeim Toussaint Buck*

Akeim Toussaint Buck is an interdisciplinary performer and creator born in Jamaica and raised in England. Akeim's intention is to create moving, thought provoking, accessible and free spirited projects.

Since graduating from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in 2014. Akeim has been involved in multiple cross art form projects with a wide range of artists and communities from around the world. The aesthetic of his work combines skills such as: dance, film, poetry, beat-box, singing and acting. Fused to create performances that tell stories capable of bridging the intersections of a variety of audiences.

Akeim’s movement interest has a myriad of inspirations, from Capoeira, KickBoxing, Contemporary Dance, Contact Improvisation, Caribbean Dance, Hip Hop, Yoga and Release Technique. His performance focus expands from the physical to vocal expression, building on an interest in the voice’s expressive qualities, with current explorations of beatboxing and vocal improvisation.

Akeim's work has been supported by Yorkshire Dance, Leeds Playhouse, Leeds Inspired, IRIE! Dance Theatre, Spin Arts, Serendipity, NSCD, Sadlers Wells and Arts Council England. His choreographic work includes: Snakebox's PLAY, 'Windows Of Displacement,’ 'Sib Y Osis' and 'Beatmotion.' Akeim's film work includes: 'Galvanise' and 'Windows.'

Refugee Week

Refugee Week is a UK-wide festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Founded in 1998 and held every year around World Refugee Day on the 20 June, Refugee Week is also a growing global movement.Through a programme of arts, cultural, sports and educational events alongside media and creative campaigns, Refugee Week enables people from different backgrounds to connect beyond labels, as well as encouraging understanding of why people are displaced, and the challenges they face when seeking safety. Refugee Week is a platform for people who have sought safety in the UK to share their experiences, perspectives and creative work on their own terms.Refugee Week’s vision is for refugees and asylum seekers to be able to live safely within inclusive and resilient communities, where they can continue to make a valuable contribution.