ARTISTS and musicians from the region's refugee communities have met for a series of workshops aimed at helping them showcase their talents.

The event, which took place at the Civic Centre, in Newcastle, and the Newcastle Arts Centre, also involved performances by refugee community organisations and workshops in arts, media and sport.

David Faulkner, chairman for the day's events, said that a great deal of untapped talent was going unnoticed because many asylum seekers did not know how to access cultural opportunities in the region.

The event was organised by the North East Consortium for Asylum Support Services (Necass) and backed by local councils, media and arts organisations.

The workshops were also aimed at developing funding proposals for arts, cultural and sporting facilities, and seeking the views of refugees and asylum seekers.

Feston Konzani, 25, a musician from Malawi now living in Middlesbrough, said that in four years he had struggled to find support for his music.

He said: "I play traditional Malawian music and I have found it very difficult finding help to pursue my career.

"Now people are opening up, but for a long time I think the abilities and talents of refugees and asylum seekers were overlooked."

He said asylum seekers had often come from traumatic backgrounds and that the opportunity to express their artistic talents helped them rebuild their lives.

He said: "There are many talented people in our communities but they need encouragement to fulfil their potential.

"That is why events like today's are so important."