News | Posted August 27, 2024
Guest Blog Introducing…
Refugee artist, Alina Litvinova talks about overcoming the challenges of creating in a new city.

My name is Alina Litvinova, and I am a refugee artist based in Edinburgh. I am passionate about helping fellow refugee artists in Scotland with their art careers.
Faced with the difficulty of finding a job in the arts in a new country, the support of The John Preston Trust has provided me with financial support in order to explore a career in the arts, as well as to provide help to other artists in a similar position.
My project takes inspiration from a book by Daniel Buren – “The Function of the Studio”, taking into consideration how artwork relates to the environment of its creation. With this in mind, I intend to curate an exhibition for refugee artists called “STUDIO”, including photos of the STUDIO (any place where an artist makes their work) will be as much a part of the exhibition as the artwork it sits beside.
I want to celebrate our differences as humans and our experiences; a masterpiece can be born in an unusual place. This project seeks to break assumptions about refugees, highlighting that among refugees there are also artists.
@al.alitarta
If you are interested in funding a project of your own, The John Preston Trust application process opens on Monday 2nd September. More details on how to apply can be found here.