Now in our 25th year, People’s Palace Projects brings together artists, activists and communities to challenge social injustices through the power of the arts. Our new Stages project develops human rights education initiatives in youth and community groups in the UK. (https://www.stagestoolkit.org)
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It has been said that the best measure of a country is how it treats refugees and asylum seekers. The UK's self-described 'hostile environment' isn't made through policy and policing alone: injustice is a long process that proceeds in increments. In overstretched schools and underfunded social support services, we struggle to identify subtle actions and behaviours as early stages of discrimination that can later lead to violations of human rights. We need to find ways of creating new dialogue.
Working in primary and secondary schools in Hastings over 5 years, we developed the Stages initiative. Across 100 creative exercises, Stages is a toolkit for dissolving preconceptions of people and place, aiding in earlier identification of discriminatory behaviours, and cultivating moral courage to respond to real life situations of ‘othering’. In 2025-26 we will expand the potential of Stages to embed inclusive practices across the community in partnership with 6 grassroots & youth groups.
