Next stop; Europe
08-12-2008

projekt UDENFOR and the artist Jens Galschiøt presented the pan-European touring exhibition Welcome HomeLess to the European NGOs at the annual FEANTSA conference in Cardiff, Wales on November 13^th – 15^th. The first NGOs have now signed up to welcome the sculptures on their way through the European capital cities in 2010. Next step is to find sponsors, who will support the exhibition.

Many curious glances and smiles were sent in the direction of the travel companions, as employees from projekt UDENFOR and Jens Galschiøt wheeled a homeless man made of bronze through Kastrup Airport in a wheelchair, early in the morning November 12^th.

By bringing the bronze sculpture to Cardiff, the team behind the touring exhibition hoped that they could bring some attention to the migrant homeless people in Europe and to the upcoming exhibition. The many questions from the bypassing travellers in the airports showed that this aim definitely can be met.

An overwhelming interest

The homeless man in bronze sat next to the lectern during the entire FEANTSA conference, and as he sat there, the message of the European touring exhibition was widely issued. But more importantly, the message of how essential it is to make NGOs sign up as co-operating partners was also issued.

We have been met by an amazing endorsement and enthusiasm from NGOs in Europe, there is many cities that have a great interest in hosting Welcome HomeLess, and we have even gotten requests from NGO in the USA, which will also like to be a part of the exhibition, says Head of Secretariat in projekt UDENFOR, Ninna Hoegh.

However, the exhibition will only tour through Europe for now, and the upcoming year will be used to make all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place in order for Welcome HomeLess to put the problematics regarding homeless into focus. One of the missing pieces is of financial nature.

Next step

The many NGOs which have already signed up shows that there is plenty of organizations, who wishes to participate in an exhibition as this one, where vulnerable persons are being put into focus and helped. As the next step, projekt UDENFOR will begin to apply for financial support from potential sponsors. The money will be used for materials and wages to the artist, but the larger costs such as the transportation of the sculptures through Europe need also to be covered.     

I know that there are many companies that will like to be a part of an exhibition, which talks the case of the homeless on a European level, and we still have openings for sponsors says Ninna Hoegh and continues; Welcome HomeLess will tour widely through Europe, and this will be a great opportunity for many sponsors to support a good project and at the same time be broadly exposed.

After his trip to Cardiff the homeless man in bronze was once again on his way through Kastrup airport, and he then knew that NGOs from 15 European countries already had signed up to be a part of Welcome HomeLess. Next stop is to find sponsors that will tour through Europe with a good cause.

Marie Skjelbo Justesen