Mark Wallinger's video installation Threshold to the Kingdom

Children who fled Afghanistan have been telling their stories as part of a project aimed at reaching out to asylum seekers in Glasgow.

Women widowed in African wars have also been offered a creative outlet under the guidance of contemporary artists.

They are among almost 100 people who have already taken part in the city's ambitious Sanctuary initiative.

The project also includes an exhibition at Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) in April, featuring artists such as Peter Howson, Louise Bourgeois, Kenny Hunter and Mark Wallinger.

There is a lack of opportunities for them to have their views represented in creative ways Heather Lynch Artist

Their work will be shown alongside pieces produced by asylum seekers and refugees at community workshops in the city.

These workshops began in community centres, drop-in facilities and voluntary organisation venues in October last year.

The programme runs until the end of this year, with the aim of creating a touring exhibition and a CD-ROM as a "lasting legacy".

Glasgow artist Heather Lynch is among those who have been involved in the community workshops.

She worked with women with children who had lost their partners, and sometimes other members fo their family, in wars in various parts of Africa.

Reflecting individuals

One other group brought together Afghani children between the ages of four and 14 who have come to the UK since the war in their homeland.

"The work we have been doing has been very much led by them and their interests," Heather explained.

"Most of the women did not speak English particularly well and were more interested in creating art which reflected them as individuals instead of making some political statement.

Glasgow's Gallery of Modern Art will host the exhibition

"That isn't that surprising because their lives have been in turmoil and their priority is to try and bring some order to their personal lives."

Heather said the women used their interest in colour and texture to create textile pieces.

The children, however, were more interested in story-telling.

"They have been making books and stories and story-boards," she said.

"A lot of that reflects their experience of life in Afghanistan, which they clearly miss a lot."

Therapeutic element

Those taking part showed a huge amount of enthusiasm for the project.

"The process of making art has been very important to them," said Heather.

"I don't want to make it sound therapeutic, but there was a therapeutic element to having some sort of objectification of what they are experiencing.

"That has been the most important part."

Almost 100 asylum seekers have been involved

She said that there were a number of groups for asylum seekers in the city.

"But there is a lack of opportunities for them to have their views represented in creative ways.

"It is generally very politicised, it is not about them as individuals."

The Sanctuary exhibition opens at GoMA on 12 April.

It bring together work from more than 30 leading contemporary artist on the theme of human rights issues facing refugees and asylum seekers worldwide.

The exhibition was developed by the gallery in partnership with Amnesty International and the Scottish Refugee Council.