The voice of survivors through art
With International Women’s Day just around the corner, an art exhibition at Mater Dei Hospital will present artworks with the aim of giving a voice to survivors of domestic violence.
“The Voice of survivors through art” exhibition is brought about by a project initiated at Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesu, which uses art for healing. Dar Qalb ta` Ġesu is a second stage domestic violence shelter, which is a service offered by Fondazzjoni Sebħ.
Through a series of art workshops, women survivors of domestic violence and their children come together in order to make their voices heard through art. The art workshops were facilitated by Jeannette Fiott, a professional and warranted art psychotherapist.
Fiott explained that the workshops gave the women and their children a safe space to engage in self-expression and to have time dedicated just for themselves. The workshop also gave them the space to share with others and to interact with one another. She said that the residents were given the opportunity to express their deepest emotions in a safe space and give them a voice when words were too difficult to be communicated. The exhibition displays the residents’ commitment over a period of time, with dedication and a voice for the deepest forms of expression.
A number of organisations and entities supported the residents and employees at Fondazzjoni Sebħ in the course of preparing for this event. These are mainly the Malta Council for Voluntarily Organisations, through the Small Initiatives Scheme, the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), the FIDEM Foundation and the Association of International Women in Malta (AIWM). The support has been greatly appreciated by the residents of Dar Qalb ta` Ġesu as well as by the employees of Fondazzjoni Sebħ.
The exhibition is being launched today, at 5.30pm at the Mater Dei foyer. Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rosianne Cutajar, President Emeritus Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and Archbishop Scicluna will be visiting the exhibition on Friday. The exhibition will be open on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 March between 10am and 9pm.