A virtual dinner party focusing on making new food in a significant dish and sharing stories will be raising money for Bridport Refugee Support Campaign.

SEAFAIR arts organisation is inviting people nationwide to the event, 'Old Vessels, New Recipes' on Friday, November 20 from 7pm online.

Thirty people can join the dinner party and up to 12 people taking part will tell their stories. SEAFAIR is asking people to choose a special vessel – bowl, plate or other – and make some food they've not made before. As they eat and chat, some will share their old vessel, new recipe stories. Everyone will be asked to draw or photograph their plate, food and recipe for a collective zine – independent, self-published booklet – and they will each get a copy. Sales of extra copies will be added to the campaign fund.

The event is a reference to Syrian and other nationality refugees having to travel and flee from their home countries.

The online dinner party was devised by Sally Lemsford, co-founder of SEAFAIR, during the Ration Challenge 2020 when she ate the same as a refugee receives for a week. It was to raise money for charity Concern Worldwide, which helps refugees with emergency food, hygiene kits and life-saving support.

She said: "It was hard enough doing it for one week, very hard to do it with no end in sight. I wanted to do more, understand better and hear stories from refugees first hand."

As co-founder of the arts collective SEAFAIR, Meg Dunford said: "This could be the start of ongoing conversations about how SEAFAIR can support Bridport Refugee Support Campaign in creative and intriguing ways."

For more information, email [email protected] or call Sally on 07974 785624.

Tickets – with a suggested donation of £5 plus – can be found at Eventbrite

Money raised will go to Bridport Refugee Support Campaign and more information can be found on its Facebook page