Over the past four months, a group of African refugee and migrant women has met regularly at the Centre to learn about craft-based business, try new craft techniques and share skills and conversations with Melbourne artists and designers.

On Sunday, 26 August 2007, the Entwine: Crafting Cultural Connections exhibition opened, showcasing the results of this collaboration.

Guests enjoy food from Ascilla African Catering at the launch of the Entwine: Crafting Cultural Connections exhibition. Photo: Raylee Sloane, Kinart.

This intriguing exhibition is made up of craft objects -- knitting, crochet, jewellery and painting -- made throughout a series of workshops led by volunteers from the Melbourne arts community. Workshop leader Fiona Dyer said, 'I love the fact that design crosses cultural boundaries and regardless of language it has a way of translating visually. I think as a workshop leader I probably got as much out of the experience as the women participating did.'

Speaking at Sunday's launch, Halima Sheikhdin, Community Support Worker with Multicultural Health and Support Service and project co-coordinator spoke on behalf of the group, saying, 'We are very happy to have this exhibition, and now we want to start up some craft business and do some catering.'

The exhibition marks the culmination of the four months of workshops and the formation of the Ascilla Group and Ascilla African Catering. The group now hopes to continue its vision to develop their burgeoning enterprise. Ultimately, they would like to establish a shopfront where they can sell their crafts, offer coffee and snacks, and provide a headquarters for their catering business.

Crafting Cultural Connections was made possible through the cooperation of Multicultural Health and Support Service and Creative Women's Circle. The project was supported by the Victorian Government through the Women Creating Harmony Grants Program.

We encourage you to take some time over the next month to view this exhibition and learn more about the women of Ascilla Group.

Exhibition details

Location: Queen Victoria Women's Centre, Ground Floor, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Opening hours: Weekdays, 9.00am to 5.00pm; until 27 September 2007

Cost: Free.

Craft items in the exhibition are available for sale with proceeds going to support the Ascilla Group. Inquiries can be directed to QVWC.