In 2020 a group of refugees and asylum seekers worked together with Firstsite staff and Refugee Action Colchester to curate ‘My name is not Refugee’, an exhibition of artworks that includes pieces from the Arts Council Collection.

‘My name is not Refugee’ is the fourth exhibition by Firstsite as part of the Arts Council Collection National Partners Programme, which will continue into 2022.

Alongside the exhibition, the group of curators worked with poet Laila Sumpton to write poetry in response to the artworks that were chosen.

Listen to a poem Laila wrote, inspired by her conversations with the group.

The Curators by Laila Sumpton

people wore masks long before Covid 
keeping their words to themselves 
you never know when things will change 
but we like mystery 
us humans want a reaction 

we find paths, we keep walking 
in an infinite world 
where we hear, gather and somehow 
work like the pages of a book 
till a story is told and ready to host 

leave your shoes at the door 
however far they’ve travelled 
and ready your heart 
for a different journey 
and ready your eyes 
for precious gifts 

art goes to the places we don’t
takes us from the predictable 
finds another way to speak 
to look into minds 

in our gallery of moments
we saw the level of our minds, 
saw who we are, 
saw our existing reason 

everything makes you question 
the answer you thought you had
and the answer that finds you
a person can be your answer 

art is more than escape,  
art finishes when shared 
we add each mirror to the puzzle 
welding you reaction machines 

walk till one speaks to you 
there is something here for everyone 
you may fall in love with their stare 
for no reason or see their face

looking back when you close your eyes 
it can offer peace, it may unsettle
but one thing is certain 
we all will travel