Ruben Cruz

Walking the streets of Great Yarmouth, it is hard not to notice at least a couple of its many colourful murals. They are the contribution of the Reprezent Project, an organisation that provides arts activities to young and underrepresented people. Ruben, one of the project’s founders and its business leader, works hard on putting Great Yarmouth on the art map of the UK.

Like many of his friends, Ruben came from Portugal to visit the UK for a short time and stayed for much longer. The first event he organised in Great Yarmouth — a graffiti competition — was so successful that Ruben cancelled his plans to go to university and focussed on the Reprezent Project instead. “It was an amazing experience. It was like having a house party and inviting all these international people to come to my house. Until that first event in 2016 I’ve never seen myself as a member of this community, as a citizen in the UK. That was the moment when I felt at home”. Producing events now, Ruben aims to create the same experience as he had then at his first event. His mission is to unite local communities that are still closed to each other, despite being active and supportive. “Through art, we want to bring people together, because there is no language in art”, says the curator and producer.

So when the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Ruben was there to help the Borough Council to reach out to the residents of Great Yarmouth. As one of 25 Community Champions he shares important information and updates with the local Portuguese community. “By creating your community you feel like you are creating your home”, he explains. “Your home could be anywhere. This is my home, because I’ve got so much history in this place. I’ve got my best friends here, my son was born here, my hobbies are here. When I go to Portugal, I miss Great Yarmouth, because my life is here. But having this community around is what made an adaptation much easier for me. Look at King Street: 7 Portuguese restaurants, 5 Portuguese coffee shops, two Portuguese bars, two Portuguese mini markets. I can wake up and go to a Portuguese place to have a breakfast from ingredients that were brought from Portugal overnight. It’s not much to miss about my home country, because I can find it here. That’s why more people from Portugal come to GY: there will always be someone to help, to translate, to explain. This is what makes Portuguese people welcome”.