About Us

Who we are: We are artists and activists that take our mission from Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that everyone has the right to freely participate in the culture of their community. We see cultural rights as indivisible from human rights and a driver of citizenship and democracy. As an arts and human rights organisation, we centre the promotion of Dignity, Justice, and Peace through our cultural role in civic society, articulated through great art and great stories. We believe: Culture has the capacity to create connections, imagine alternate futures and generate hope. We recognise the different knowledges that exist in all our lives and communities, and this is our strength. Culture is not neutral; it is democracy in action and must be supported in every generation. Our Mission: We explore the meaning and implementation of Cultural Rights through local, national, and international perspectives. We are committed to addressing the challenges and to make the most of the opportunities that this brings to make our neighbourhood and city a dignified and peaceful place to live.

Co-Director

Helen Trew: is originally from Belfast, where her lived experience of the Conflict instilled a commitment to arts activism in peacebuilding. She is an experienced cultural producer and practitioner over 25yrs in theatre, film, museums & heritage and multi-arts socially engaged projects. She is a specialist in equalities, diversity and inclusion, most recently with the public body for arts, screen and creative industries, Creative Scotland. She trained in theatre performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and in Film at Napier University Edinburgh. She is currently studying for an MSc in Equalities and Human Rights at Glasgow University. Helen is also ex Director and now Board member for Just Festival and Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts Scotland. www.linkedin.com/in/helen-trew-frsa-82847a165

Co-Director

Robert Rae is one of Scotland’s leading theatre and film directors and writers. He chooses to develop his work through socially engaged practice that aligns with his own political and activist commitments. His expertise has taken him all over the world sharing and developing his methodology. His career spans over 30 years, during which time he was Producer for 7:84 England, and Artistic Director/CEO of Theatre Workshop Scotland for 18 years which changed the landscape in Scotland for disabled artists in particular. Most recently he was International Artist in Residence for The Playhouse, Derry devising a Theatre of Witness piece based on survivors of the Conflict in the border towns in Northern Ireland. He is also Director of his own theatre company, Our Land Productions. www.robertrae.co.uk

Digital Comms & Project Coordinator

Saber Bamatraf is our Digital Comms and Project Support. He is a Yemeni musician and creative practitioner who has been working with Art27 as artist-in-residence, and to coordinate our various projects. With 7+ years of experience in the humanitarian field with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Yemen, Saber has also been actively involved in the artistic and cultural community. He and his wife, award-winning visual artist Shatha Altowai, have been artists-at-risk since 2018 due to their art activism. In 2020-21, Saber was awarded an IIE-Artist Protection Fund Fellowship hosted at IASH within the University of Edinburgh. https://saberbamatraf.com/