The Lotus Flower is hosting its first ‘Young Artists Beyond Borders’ art exhibition, showcasing the creativity and resilience of young Yezidi children from Kurdistan.

The powerful exhibition will be held in our shop on Hastings seafront and coincides with the Bottle Alley Art Market 2024, which brings together dozens of participating artists.

The artworks we’ll be displaying have been created by Yezidi girls and boys aged 7-15 who have been deeply affected by years of conflict. Many of them have lost their homes and loved ones, and all have spent their childhoods amid the fear, chaos and uncertainty of war and displacement.

The children taking part are supported through one of the Lotus Flower’s major protection projects and identified as being traumatised by our case workers. Through regular art therapy sessions provided by our trainers, they have found a vital outlet for expressing their emotions and feelings, which in turn helps alleviate their trauma and improve their mental health.

Our exhibition will include the sale of limited-edition postcards and prints, with all proceeds directly supporting our work with vulnerable women and girl conflict survivors, as well as underrepresented members of our local community in Hastings.

This event is a great opportunity to stand in solidarity with those who have faced unimaginable hardship, while also helping foster healing through the power of art. By attending our exhibition and purchasing any artworks or donating to our work, you will be contributing to a better future for these children and demonstrating the strength of the Hastings creative community.  

Young Artists Beyond Borders takes place at the Lotus Flower shop at 29 White Rock, from 10-6pm this Saturday and Sunday (17-18th August).