Home is Where the Art is

The Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London, will host an exhibition next month in association with King’s student initiative the ‘Hot Chocolate Society’ and the charity Café Art.

‘Home is Where the Art is’ presents a series of artworks made by the homeless as part of a creative process designed to aid their personal rehabilitation and a wider advocacy of the issue. According to a recent government study, rough sleeping has gone up by 37% in London since 2010.

Michael Wong, co-Director of Café Art said, ‘We hope that an exhibition of this kind can contribute to raising awareness over the issue, highlighting the role that the student and legal community can play in acknowledging this growing social problem.’

The artworks will be displayed on Floor -2 of Somerset House East Wing (3 February – 4 March 2016). The exhibition will be open to all King’s students and staff members with access to the building. King’s students, staff and members of the public without access are welcome to email Jing Yi Chua (jing_yi.chua@kcl.ac.uk) to arrange visits.

This project also marks the ongoing collaboration of the ‘Hot Chocolate Society’ and Café Art. The student-led society was established to raise awareness of homelessness within the student body through advocacy initiatives, fundraisers and regular outreach sessions. Café Art is a social enterprise that strives to use art as a tool of empowerment for the homeless, helping to create artwork that is exhibited at local cafes, pop-up exhibitions, art markets and corporate events.

Alongside hosting an annual photography contest for the homeless, Café Art recently produced the world's first international exchange of homeless art across several major cities. They aim to give people affected by homelessness a creative outlet, building their confidence in an exchange that is predicated on a productive engagement with society.

For more information on Café Art, please visit their website at www.cafeart.org.uk

To find out more about the exhibition, or to arrange a visit, please contact Jing Yi Chua (jing_yi.chua@kcl.ac.uk).