W H O   W E   A R E

We are mostly working artists with contacts in various branches of the arts in the UK. We set up Artists In Exile to try to help artists from Ukraine navigate the bewildering feeling of displacement. Through contacts with artist communities and institutions we hope to give Ukrainian artists help in finding a safe and productive place to live and work in the UK.

We are a core group of people helped by hosts, community hosts and arts administrators in various places in the UK including Cardiff, Cambridge, London, Leeds, Hebden Bridge and elsewhere. We run Artists In Exile on a purely volunteer basis. 

We are: writer Sarah Woods, film-maker Alex Metcalf, artist and facilitator Lil Woods, theatre-maker Adrian Jackson, researcher Jude Hannam, writer Oisin Teevan and composer Boff Whalley. 

Here are some of the things our supported artists have been up to... 
A FORBIDDEN SONG

In May 2023, our 45-minute audio drama was broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Written by Sarah Woods and Boff Whalley and based on a co-creative process with Artists in Exile artists from Ukraine, it's a love story with songs, about two young women separated by war.

Valya and Masha are teenage musicians, but they have to keep their relationship a secret, because of prejudice and fear of violence. And now Valya is a refugee, living with her mother in Wales, while Masha remains in Kyiv. The drama tells their story, but also the story of the bandura, the Ukrainian national instrument, suppressed at various points in history, not least under Stalin, who had bandurists persecuted and murdered.

Diana, Elena, Aliese and Sonia are all young Ukrainian artists supported by Artists in Exile, through the Homes for Ukraine scheme, to come to the UK.

Valya....Diana Simchuk

Nataliia....Elena Sophya Gryshchenko

Masha....Aliese Chydzhan

Susi.....Eiry Thomas

The bandura is played by Sonia Savchuk

Music by Boff Whalley, with Sonia Savchuk

Drama by Sarah Woods, with Diana Simchuk, Aliese Chydzhan, Elena Sophya Gryshchenko

Sound design by Catherine Robinson and Nigel Lewis

Directed by Emma Harding, BBC Audio Drama Wales

Link to the BBC recording of the play

SALVATION ARMY CAROL CONCERT - ROYAL ALBERT HALL

In December 2022, Artists in Exile performed at The Salvation Army's annual carol concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

We performed a new version of Carol of the Bells, arranged and conducted by composer Will Todd. It was originally composed by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1916, based on the Ukrainian folk song Shchedryk. The theme of the concert was Peace and Reconciliation.

You can watch the concert here (we’re at 53’18”).

Performers at the Salvation Army concert, December 2022 at the Royal Albert Hall

CAMBRIDGESHIRE MUSIC OPENING

On September 23rd 2022, one of our young Ukrainian musicians Sonia played her Bandura to celebrate the opening of Cambridgeshire Music's new venue, which champions music provision for young people across Cambridgeshire.

CORONATION CONCERT

One of our singers, Anhelina, sang in the Coronation Choir for King Charles and Queen Camilla's coronation concert.

Performers from the Royal Northern College of Music at the concert for Artists in Exile, Manchester

HANNA'S CONCERT

On March 20th one of our young artists Hanna organised a special fundraising evening of music for us at the Sacred Trinity Church in Manchester. The concert featured students of the Royal Northern College of Music, performing works by Ukrainian and international composers.