Kingston Arts along with Kingston Social Development team are excited to be launching Bukjeh Online for Refugee Week.

What is a Bukjeh - It is the sack of belongings people take with them in a rush when they have to leave

What is Rehle - It is the jouney of hardship people go through until they settle in a place they call home

What is Khieme - It is the temporary or permanent homes people find themselves in during their journey

Led by Palestinian artist Aseel Tayah in collaboration with Artists from Australia and around the world Bukjeh is honest, powerful and truly inclusive.  Bukjeh connects people of all ages and backgrounds. The aim of Bukjeh is to empower people who might feel out of the conversation about the reasons and impacts of global migration because they do not know the 'right' questions to ask or due to fear of saying the 'wrong thing'. Bukjeh initates a truly menaingful and personal connection between those who have been forced to leave their home and those who have not experienced so.

At a time where we all need to practice physical isolation, opportunities for connection and belonging are at the forefront of our daily lives. Bukjeh brings people together by asking the question, what if, instead of being told to ‘Stay at Home’ you were forced to leave your home?

Both stories are as important each other. At this time of social distancing, however, we need an online platform to bring together these stories and make them available to a wider audience. Bukjeh, in its many live iterations has brought together audiences of all ages, contributing to our local cultural landscape, and providing a critical, culturally safe frame for some of the most important but challenging conversations nationally. Bukjeh showcases the innovative nature of artwork created in Victoria by artists of colour and the role art can play in shaping society.

During Refugee Week we invite you to take part in these amazing workshops run by professional artist who will take you through the tree main topics, Bukjeh (sack), Rehley (journey) and Kheimeh (home). 

We also invite you to post a profile, share your story including where you come from and upload or link pictures, songs or even home movies that to your sharing.  In this way Bukjeh online will also grow to a rich archive of Australian stories, some where Australians can learn, exhcnage and engage. Upon sharing your story we will be coming together later in the year (when COVID19 restrictions ease) to share these stories in a Tent Experience  where artists share their stories of fleeing homeland and creating a new life. This will be presented at Westall Hub Library, further details will follow on when this will take place.