As part of Refugee Week, the Wreath of Friendship – a Ukrainian community artwork - will be on display at the Cathedral, celebrating the British response to the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis, the mutual enrichment of cultures and the joy of craftsmanship.
Ukrainian people staying in the UK and members of the local community took part in a series of craft workshops in early 2024, making flowers from polymer clay which were later assembled to form a larger version of the wreath, a traditional Ukrainian female head-dress. Workshops were held in Chichester, Birdham, Bosham, Tangmere and West Ashling.
A different type of Ukrainian or British flower was made at each workshop. Each flower in the Wreath of Friendship has a small paper tag with a name of the woman who made it. The project was organised by Voluntary Action Arun and Chichester, facilitated by Ukrainian artist Irma Latsanych and funded by Chichester District Council.
Nina Olyeynikova, Ukrainian & Eastern European Coordinator at Voluntary Action Arun & Chichester, said: "Dealing with clay is a tactile, meditative activity, while doing it as an all-female group resulted in bursts of laughter, impromptu singing in Ukrainian and even, for a short couple of hours, took participants’ minds away from worries and the traumatic experiences of fleeing war in their native country, and building their lives from scratch in the UK."
The Wreath of Friendship will be on display within the Cathedral from Sunday 17th June until the end of the month.