The Art of Friendship: Solidifying Resettled Communities in Philadelphia

Abstract

Written by two unlikely friends, this article discusses a project, Friends, Peace, and Sanctuary (FPS), that brought together professional book artists and recently resettled families from Syria and Iraq to co-create works together over the course of two years, and culminated in a series of exhibitions in Swarthmore, Philadelphia, and New York. Friendship and building intercultural relationships was at the heart of FPS, which we argue exemplifies the ways in which community-based, socially engaged art can function as a pathway to peace and social justice in local communities. The project, which formally ended in 2019, has had ripple effects in the resettled community of Philadelphia, and project collaborators continue to work closely together to promote peace in the City through arts and culture initiatives.