ArtHouse Jersey has announced law firm Spoor & Fisher Jersey as the new lead sponsors of their long-term, socially engaged project Abundant Futures.
Commissioned by ArtHouse Jersey, the project is led by Romanian artist Dana Olărescu in collaboration with contributing artists, academics and organisations such as Dhaqan Collective, Kaajal Modi, Olha Pryymak, William Bock, Mariana Pinto Leitão Pereira and Counterpoints. Focusing on food justice, the project aims to amplify existing insights and expertise within migrant communities and native populations regarding sustainable growing practices, soil regeneration and food resilience in the face of the climate crisis.
In April 2024, Abundant Futures began its public reach after a period of research. The project uses art to explore issues like climate, migration and labour justice, with a focus on food politics. It aims to create spaces where people can connect, share skills, and build on the knowledge of both migrant and local communities centred on food resilience in a changing climate. How can we draw on the lived experiences of Jersey’s diverse minorities, their knowledge from other homelands, and amplify the ‘local’ through global voices and cultural diversity?
This May, Ukrainian-born painter and participatory artist Olha Pryymak visits Jersey to research and connect into the wealth of knowledge that exists on the Island related to skills in subsistence living (including fermentation, foraging, and folk craft traditions) to inform the curation of Kupala Festival later in the year. Olha will lead a foraging walk to gather natural materials that are available seasonally to be used as craft materials to create floral crowns, demonstrating the availability of materials from our landscape to create usable objects.
Abundant Futures includes a year-long programme of creative workshops for people from migrant backgrounds, visits from international artists working with plant, food, and soil knowledge, research interviews conducted by academic Mariana Pinto Leitão Pereira, and participant-led public sessions showcasing their resources, capabilities, and agency. By using food as a catalyst, Abundant Futures honours the diverse knowledge and skills that participants bring from their homelands, fostering new cultures and working to nourish future generations.
Producer for ArtHouse Jersey, Robyn Cabaret, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Spoor & Fisher as sponsors for this meaningful project. Dana Olărescu’s work, alongside visiting artists, has been invaluable in bringing together people with migrant and local backgrounds, offering a richer understanding of Jersey’s diverse social fabric and the vital role of cultural heritage in fostering a more inclusive, resilient community. With Spoor & Fisher’s generous support – reflecting their commitment to strengthening cultural connections – we can extend this impact, reaching new audiences while amplifying the expertise and insights of migrant communities. While much of the Abundant Futures work has taken place in intimate settings, we’re excited to share these powerful stories with the wider public through a vibrant event later this year. We invite everyone to join us; visit arthousejersey.je for updates and details on how to get involved.”
Director for Spoor & Fisher Jersey, Jen Colantoni, said: “Spoor & Fisher Jersey’s sponsorship of Abundant Futures reflects our commitment to championing diversity, inclusion, and cultural exchange. Through initiatives like this, we celebrate the invaluable skills, heritage, and knowledge that migrant communities contribute to the Jersey community. We are excited to see how the project develops and are sure it will lead to conversations within our own Firm about the diversity of our workforce and their experiences along with the connections we have globally, and specifically throughout Africa and the Caribbean.”
Main picture: Fozia Ismail, Milk songs, here, there and everywhere
