In collaboration, we aim to co-create meaningful knowledge on the challenges and resilience of queer refugees and the role of engaged scholarship. The organising team consists of: Fabian Holle (PhD researcher in this project, artist) - Noa Bawits (Framer Framed) - Sajad Salmanpour (MSc Sociology and Research Assistant in both this project and Refugee Academy).

We are researching how engaged scholarship can be mutually beneficial in terms of knowledge and resources for those involved (the queer refugee community, the art institution, academia, community organizers and artists). Collectively we work to make the space a safer environment for queer refugee stories and perspectives. On March 27 2022, an exhibition was opened for the public and stayed on display until May 8, 2022. 

During the workshops in 2022 and the beginning of 2023, Alaaddin Ammar was part of the organising team to provide social support, connecting mental health, social health and art practices. Alaaddin has also introduced and instructed most of the workshop facilitators in the period of September 2022 until March 2023. From June 2023 onwards, Alaaddin will organise semi-public art & rave events inspired by the LIMBO philosophy centering and celebrating queer refugees. 

Outside the workshops, Fabian or Sajad may ask participants to engage in conversations about creativity, queerness, refugees, experiences within this project or similar engagements with Dutch institutions, and life in the Netherlands. These interviews will inform Fabian’s PhD research on the role of engaged scholarship in the lives of queer refugees in the Netherlands. We aim to take the co-creative aspect of this project seriously, so we are hoping that participants will share their ideas, visions and concerns with us at any time, also outside of the interview!

If you are LGBTQIA+ and have a refugee experience, you can participate in any workshop for free. Almost every Sunday at Framer Framed. We are also continuously looking for workshop facilitators from the queer refugee community to give creative workshops that have (elements of) storytelling in any shape or form. Please contact Fabian Holle via e-mail (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for information and sign up.

Framer Framed
Oranje-Vrijstaatkade 71
1093 KS Amsterdam

In this video, we briefly explain the project and a main concept we use in our gatherings, which is 'holding space':

Booklet "LIMBO - queer exilic narratives"

We co-created a LIMBO booklet designed by Ariya. It entails most of the creative works, workshops, and reflections from the first period until the opening event on March 27, 2022. If you would like to have a (free) copy of the booklet, please send an e-mail to Sajad Salmanpour (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Workshops & Events

Creative workshops are/were given by: Alaaddin Ammar, Maha Youssef, Rochita Loenen-Ruiz, Sunni Lamin Barrow, Parisa Akbarzadehpoladi, Jerrold Saija, Kenza Badi, Rah Naqvi, Razan Hassan, Love Masisi, Ariya and others. 

2022

THE ART OF RESTRAINT - rope play & consent, with Maha Youssef
Sunday, 30^th of January 2022 - 13:00h - 16:30h 

STORY CREATION, with Rochita Loenen-Ruiz
Sunday, 6^th of February 2022 - 13:00h - 16:00h
Sunday, 13^th of February 2022 - 13:00h - 16:00h

POETRY, with Sunni Lamin Barrow
Sunday, 20^th of February 2022 - 13:00h (together with Parisa Akbarzadehpoladi)

BIOGRAPHICAL DRAWING, with Parisa Akbarzadehpoladi
Sunday, 20^th of February 2022 - 13:00h (after Lamin Barrow) 
Sunday, 27^th of February 2022 - 13:00h 

FIMO CLAY - ancestral communication technology, with Jerrold Saija
Sunday, 6^th of March 2022 - 13:00h (together with Mala Badi)

CLOWNING, with Kenza Badi
Sunday, 6^th of March 2022 - 13:00h (together with Jerrold Saija) 

DEFIANCE DOLLS, with Rah Naqvi
Sunday, 13^th of March 2022 - 13:00h 

EXHIBITION-MAKING, with all collectively
Sunday, 20^th of March 2022 - 13:00h 

OPENING EVENT, Organised by Mama Kil representing Sehaq Queer Refugees Group 
Sunday, 27^th of March 2022 - 14:00h - 17:00h

FINISSAGE, with all collectively
Sunday, 8^th of May 2022 - 14:00h - 17:00h

SAFER SPACE RITUAL MAKING, with Sarah Tazit and Fabian Holle
Sunday, 15^th of May 2022 - 14:00h - 17:00h

COLLAGE, with Alaaddin Ammar and Fabian Holle
Sunday, 29^th of May 2022 - 14:00h - 17:00h 

PHOTOVOICE, with Alaaddin Ammar and Fabian Holle
Sunday, 5^th of June 2022 - 14:00h - 17:00h

FOOD AND STORIES, with Alaaddin Ammar
Sunday, 12^th of June 2022 - 14:00h - 17:00h

POETRY, with Sunni Lamin Barrow
Sunday, 26^th of June 2022 - 13:00h 

VU VIEWS, presentation of art works and research
Monday, 27^th of June 2022 - 16:00h - 18:00h

QUEER POETRY NIGHT, with Unwanted Words
Saturday, 6^th of August 2022 - 17:00h - 19:00h

PHOTOVOICE, with Alaaddin Ammar
Sunday, 11^th of September 2022 - 13:00h - 17:00h

SOUNDSCAPES, with Razan Hassan
Sunday, 18^th & 25^th of September 2022 - 13:00h - 17:00h

CONNECTING JOURNEYS, stitching timelines together with Fabian Holle
Sunday, 2^nd & 9^th of October 2022 - 13:00h - 17:00h

TALANOA FORUM, with Yuki Kihara
Sunday, 16^th of October 2022 - 13:00h - 17:00h 

ASH RESHTE food & stories, with Sahar Jamshidi & Hossein Razbari
Sunday, 23^rd of October 2022 - 13:00h - 17:00h 

COLLECTIVE BRAINSTORM, with Noa Bawits
Sunday, 30^th of October 2022 - 13:00h - 17:00h 

EXHIBITION TOUR & PAINTING, with Noa Bawits
Sunday, 6^th of November 2022 - 13:00h - 17:00h 

CONNECTING JOURNEYS, stitching timelines together with Fabian Holle
Sunday, 13^th of November 2022 - 13:00h - 17:00h

MAKE UP FOR THE EYES OF THE SOUL, with Love Masisi 
Sunday, 27^th of November 2022 - 13:00h - 17:00h

SYMBOLS & FEELINGS, a visual journey inwards, with Ariya
Sunday,  11^th of December 2022 - 13:00h - 17:00h

END OF THE YEAR CELEBRATION, organised by the LIMBO team
Sunday, 18^th of December 2022- 17:00h - 20:00h

2023 - 2024

SYMBOLS & FEELINGS, a visual journey inwards, with Ariya
Sunday, 15^th of January 2023 - 13:00h -17:00h

LIMBO queer safer celebration – secret location. 
Sunday, 22^nd of January 2023 - 14:00h - 00:00h.

RELEASING ENERGY – drawing, ink and stories with Marwa Mezher
Sunday, 5^th of February 2023 - 13:00h -17:00h 

RECYCOLOGY - upcycling clothes with Nojan & Fardad
Sunday, 19^th of February 2023 - 13:00h -17:00h 

RECYCOLOGY - upcycling clothes with Nojan & Fardad
Sunday, 5^th of March 2023 - 13:00h -17:00h 

NOWRUZ – Persian new year celebration with Sajad, Nojan, Fardad, Ariya and others
Sunday, 19^th of March 2023 - 13:00h -17:00h (canceled)

Unfortunately, the LIMBO workshops had to pause due to health issues. After a period of healing, and reflecting on how to make the workshops more sustainable for the organizing team, the bi-weekly workshops will start again in September 2023 until August 2024. All sixteen workshops in this last period will be facilitated by Rochita Loenen-Ruiz and Lana Jelenjev.