Funded by the UK Government in Mauritius in collaboration with the British Council Mauritius, Imiloa Collective's Creative Entrepreneurship Programme has been instrumental in supporting the Chagossian community. Through a series of workshops and exhibitions in both the UK and Mauritius, in partnership with creative facilitator Audrey Albert, the program highlighted the rich cultural heritage of the Chagossian people. Its primary aim was to bridge cultures and foster a global community through activities such as sun print-making and oral history workshops. By preserving and interpreting participants' voices and memories, the program culminated in an exhibition that merged UK and Mauritius series, emphasizing cross-cultural experiences. This showcase also featured Audrey’s projects, including "Matter Out of Place" and "Chagossians of Manchester" in the UK.
The impact of this initiative was documented in the "Ble Kouler Lakaz" exhibition, which displayed artwork from the workshops conducted in the UK and Mauritius. Audrey Albert shared her artistic processes and exhibited pieces crafted by Chagossian participants, incorporating cyanotype prints, vibrant digital images, and selected works from her "Matter Out of Place" collection. The exhibition engaged visitors with thought-provoking questions such as "What tastes remind you of home?" (Ki gou ki rapel twa lakaz | kot twa?) and "Tell me a memory of the sea" (Rakont mwa enn souvenir la mer ki twena). "Ble Kouler Lakaz" intricately explored Chagossian traditions by incorporating household objects and memoirs, creating an immersive heritage experience that shed light on the Chagossian community.
This project served as a tribute to the Chagossians' entrepreneurial spirit and creativity, emphasizing the empowerment inherent in these artistic expressions. Through these endeavors, the Creative Entrepreneurship Programme pays respectful homage to Chagossian ancestors, with the recurring presence of the color blue in Albert’s works and processes symbolizing the ongoing quest for home and familiarity.