Migration & The Arts

Panel Discussion followed by Q&A. Hybrid event (in person or via Zoom). All welcome!

An essential, yet sometimes overlooked, part of migration research is ‘lived experience’ – the unique and individual stories of migrants in the UK. Particular examples of these stories, which can deepen and contribute to migration scholarship, are those of migrant artists and individuals working in the UK arts sector, where much of their artistic work, whether intentional or not, centres on themes of migration or mobility. Joining an already precarious and competitive industry, theatremakers, producers, and performers from outside the UK can face potential barriers: an absence of the ‘right’ network when they arrive, language and cultural challenges, and being seen as 'other'. Having entered the UK, they must still make it through the Customs Gates of the ‘British’ Arts scene. However, creating and presenting artistic work in another language or bringing skills and techniques from different cultural perspectives can offer opportunities to spotlight alternative forms of creativity, broaden audience experience, and enhance an industry that thrives on constant evolution. This panel discussion is a chance to hear directly from individuals working in the UK as artists and arts professionals and how their experiences of migration inform their work and creativity (and vice versa).