WALK WITH AMAL AT WENTWORTH CASTLE GARDENS

November 2021

“I shall remember yesterday, and Little Amal and all she represents, for days, weeks, and probably years to come.”

Visitor, Wentworth Castle Gardens

In 2021, from the Syria-Turkey border all the way to the UK and to Barnsley, Walk with Amal brought together celebrated artists, major cultural institutions, community groups and humanitarian organisations, creating one of the most innovative and adventurous public artworks ever attempted.

Little Amal is a 3.5 metre-tall puppet of a Syrian refugee child, at the heart of ‘The Walk’.  Over the summer and autumn of 2021, she walked over 8,000km across Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and Barnsley to focus attention on the urgent needs of young refugees.

Created by Good Chance Theatre, in collaboration with world-famous creators of War Horse Handspring Puppet Company. Placing Barnsley on the world stage, we shared an important message about Barnsley’s welcome for refugees and acknowledges the important contributions migrants make and have always made to our borough.

The Barnsley Feels Like Home group welcomed Little Amal on

her arrival at Wentworth Castle Gardens through poetry, dance and song inspired by the flowers onsite, sharing their experiences of journey and belonging. Throughout the pandemic Walk with Amal provided a focus, support and hope which was realised in the outdoor celebration.

Barnsley was chosen to be part of this incredible tour because of the borough’s own Feels Like Home’ (ESOL group) and partnerships with Good Chance Theatre. Established by Barnsley Museums over four years ago the group has over 100 members, representing all age groups and many nationalities from across the world. The group embeds language skills with cultural activities, offering opportunities to build relationships and friendships.

This international arts projects shines a light on the experience of migrants especially children but it also is full of joycelebrating diversity, and unity of people from all nationalities and backgrounds. It was fitting that Amal visited Barnsley during Black History Month and was welcomed by the Feels Like Home group. For many group members, being part of Little Amal’s journey was extremely emotive, her journey often mirroring their own experiences.

“On behalf of [Good Chance Theatre] I wanted to say a huge thank you for welcoming Amal to Wentworth Castle Gardens… I could see all the energy and effort that had gone into it and it was truly impressive. I thought it was such a lovely, intimate and heart-warming welcome. “

Dina Mousawi, Creative Producer, Good Chance

“Dear team Barnsley, … a heartfelt thanks for all your hard work, proactivity, determination and creativity. Together we… produced a collaboration of brilliance and I am very grateful to have worked with you on this. Thanks a million for your belief in us, The Walk. The little ones reading the poem about seeds in their Yorkshire accents… gave me goosebumps! The event was so special and had real soul, so congrats.

Amaya Jeyarajah Dent, UK Producer, The Walk