The collection comprises materials generated and collected by Lynne Williamson, Director of the CT Cultural Heritage Arts Program, during fieldwork and program activities with Connecticut refugee artists in preparation for two phases of this collaborative project with folklorists from Maine and Vermont. Phase 1 (2013-2014) involved a traveling exhibit of artists from the three states, presented in all three states and with associated programming. Phase 2 (2015-2017) focuses on artist exchanges among the three states at events organized in Connecticut and Vermont. Items include digital images and video recorded by Williamson, biographical and other manuscripts and flyers created for grant applications and programming, and one panel from the traveling exhibit series.

The project is a collaboration between Cultural Resources Inc. of Maine - the project manager; the Vermont Folklife Center; and the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program at the Institute for Community Research (phase 1) and the Connecticut Historical Society (phase 2).

Communities whose artists are represented in the project and therefore the collection: Tibetan, Somali, Somali Bantu, Assyrian, Bosnian, Burmese Karen

Connecticut artists involved in the exhibit and programming include: Fatima Vejzovic, Ajsa Guster, Fikreta Muratovic, Florence Betgeorge, Mu Wah, Hser Nay Paw, Myint Khin, Sadiyo Aden, Fatuma Ahmed, Jampa Tsondue, Kunga Choekyi, Yeshi Dorjee