TUESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2022
On Saturday 8 October, we celebrated the launch of three Migrant Voice’s projects in Glasgow: Putting Ourselves in the Picture, Migrant Media Lab, and Women’s Group.
The event was attended by over a hundred people representing around 20 ethnicities, including Albanian, Chinese, Dutch, Greek, Gypsy traveller, Kurdish, Pakistani, Persian, Polish, Scottish, Sudanese, and Ukrainian.
The launch event was a great opportunity to connect with others, enjoy food and dances from around the world, and to help Migrant Voice shape our Glasgow based activities.
Above: Nazek Ramadan and Marzanna Antoniak introducing the projects
Participants were welcomed by the Director, Nazek Ramadan, and Marzanna Antoniak, the Glasgow Network Coordinator, who introduced the projects:
Our upcoming project Putting Ourselves in the Picture
The project, funded by Heritage Fund, is a collaboration with Glasgow Museums and aims to empower migrants to tell their stories, filling their missing place in Scottish heritage and promoting integration through art, history and culture. It will include an exhibition at Kelvingrove Art Gallery which will feature photographs taken within two projects delivered by Migrant Voice in Scotland: Engaging Pictures (2013) and Changing Lenses (2018).
Relaunch of our Migrant Media Labs
We are relaunching our popular training sessions with journalists, film-makers, photographers, and media experts from Glasgow University and other partners.
Our new Women’s Group
Our new women’s group launched on the same day. We want it to become a platform where women from different migrant backgrounds can meet together to explore creative solutions to their needs, share interests and skills, and make their voices heard.
Above: A word from Sophie Taylor, Migrant Voice trustee
Sophie Taylor, one of Migrant Voice’s Trustees, commended the start of the projects and wished everyone a great evening.
We danced to music from Scotland, Armenia, Ukraine, Iran, Kurdistan, Greece and Romania. Dances were called by Colin MacLennan and some of the participants who were keen to share their culture with others.
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We were busy dancing but some participants did find the time to share their comments for activities that Migrant Voice could run in Glasgow, including a community dance club, theatre, multicultural events, a skills bank, a radio programme, and more. Several people signed up to volunteer with us.
We have also received some good feedback about the event with one participant saying: “This was an amazing evening!!! Thank you for having us here and for unforgettable dancing!” and another calling us “A new hope in Glasgow!”
We would like to thank everyone who came along and helped us make this such a fabulous celebration! We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to our projects and activities at our new Garnethill Multicultural Centre based office!
Below: Some of the ideas shared by event participants