SWINDON will welcome an internationally renowned artist today as events to mark Refugee Week continue apace.

Israeli-born Gil Mualem Doron's thought-provoking installation challenging the perceptions of what it means to be British will be on display at the Artsite's Number Nine Gallery in Theatre Square.

The interactive project - New Union Flag – aims to re-imagine the union flag, acknowledging and celebrating the many communities that have contributed to the UK’s cultural legacy.

The work is coming to Swindon as part of a two-year tour funded by Arts Council England that has already engaged thousands of people through gallery exhibitions, cultural events, festivals, rallies and workshops in towns and cities across the country.

Gil's installation will be on display at a private view at the Number Nine Gallery this evening from 7pm. The event also boasts Somalian oud music by local musician Sugal.

Nicola Johnson, Development Worker for Swindon City of Sanctuary, who are hosting the event, said: “We’re immensely proud and excited to be hosting internationally renowned artist, Gil Mualem Doran, in Swindon for Refugee Week 2017.”

On Thursday, the celebrated artist, who has exhibited at the Tate Modern and Saatchi Gallery, will be working with three Swindon schools to create their own alternative union flags.

To celebrate Refugee Week, the Number Nine Gallery will also be displaying ‘A Shared Future’ - an exhibition showing off paintings by asylum seekers and refugees.

The exhibit is being managed by local artists Paul Exton and Rachel Pryor, who run workshops at The Harbour Project in Swindon. The sessions are funded by the People’s Health Trust through its Active Communities programme.

Paul said: “Hopefully the art acts as a therapy to ease the mental and physical trauma suffered by people who have been forced to flee their homes due to war and persecution.

"It’s very interesting working with people from such diverse cultures, who are adding so much to the vocabulary of our creative experience here in the UK.”

‘A Shared Future’ will be on display until Saturday.

Admission to the private view of New Union Flag is free, but tickets must be reserved by clicking here.