A new pop up art exhibition will be coming to Grays town centre this week, featuring artworks created by a number of local people with refugee and sanctuary seeking backgrounds.

The work was created through a series of workshops as part of 'Cafe Create'.

That is a collaborative arts project designed in partnership by the 180 Project, a project run by Thurrock's Community Church, whose mission includes supporting those escaping persecution and war as they settle into the community of Thurrock and Together Productions, an arts organisation working across Thurrock and North London to promote community, creativity and positive social change.

Families and individuals took part in three sessions where they worked with vocal and visual artists to sing, dance and create multi-media artwork inspired by the idea of 'This is Me', exploring ideas of identity, who we are and what we love.

Now the artworks created will be available for everyone to enjoy, with an exhibition hosted by Welcome to the UK, a local charity which welcomes families from overseas. It is based in the heart of Grays Shopping Centre.

Visitors to the exhibition's open afternoon (Thursday, 25 January 12 noon-4pm) will also have the chance to get creative themselves and add to the gallery wall.

The project was supported by Thurrock START and the organisations involved hope this is just the beginning of more collaborative projects to shine a light on the creativity of this community.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the exhibition should contact [email protected] or [email protected]