Leading artists behind a new charity dedicated to helping refugees have slammed the UK government’s decision to bomb Syria. Nadya Tolokonnikova, a member of Pussy Riot, who is an ambassador for Refugee Response Foundation, tells The Art Newspaper she is “disgusted”, but “not surprised” by last week’s vote.
“The bombing of Syria will force many thousands more people to flee the country and seek refuge in Europe. Some of these people will end up in the hellish refugee camp [in Calais] known as the Jungle,” Tolokonnikova says. The camp is already home to an estimated 6,000 people from countries including Sudan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Syria.
Mike Snelle, of the London-based artist duo The Connor Brothers, who co-founded Refugee Response Foundation, describes the decision to bomb Syria as “arrogant”. “It is clear UK politicians lack the humility to make a moral judgement and the humanity to deal with the consequences of the judgement they do make,” he says.
The Connor Brothers and their team have just returned from a week in the Jungle where they have been building wooden shelters for refugees living in dire conditions. The majority of people sleep in tents and makeshift shacks that leak and offer little protection from the biting wind. Fires are a frequent hazard; more than 300 people were left homeless after a blaze ripped through the camp two weeks ago. The figures are all estimates, as there is no UN or Red Cross presence in the Jungle.
Tolokonnikova is due to visit the camp for the first time with The Connor Brothers at the end of January when the charity aims to build 50 more shelters. They cost £250 each, and Snelle estimates the charity needs between £15,000 and £20,000 to cover the trip. He hopes to raise £1m over the course of next year, which will fund a programme to train volunteers to build shelters, as well as help refugees arriving in London with living and legal costs.
Refugee Response Foundation, which is expected to be awarded NGO status in the coming weeks, is already backed by a number of figures from the arts, including the American street artist Swoon and the British actress Lisa Moorish, and more are expected to pitch in. There are plans to release a print every month, donated by high-profile artists, as well as a fundraising sale at a major auction house in the New Year. Hang-Up gallery in east London is releasing a third limited-edition print by The Connor Brothers; earlier print runs have raised money for shelters.
Snelle and his artist partner James Golding are also due to travel to the Greek islands after Christmas to see if they can help there. “The number of people arriving by boat on Greek shores—with thousands drowning in the process—will no doubt increase following last week’s decision to bomb Syria,” Golding says. “We will be reaching out to the art world to ask for their support for those who are experiencing unimaginable suffering.”