Migrant Voice partners with artist Vanley Burke, Ikon and more

Migrant Voice partners with artist Vanley Burke, Ikon and more

WEDNESDAY 6 OCTOBER, 2021

In Autumn 2021, Ikon is partnering with Migrant Voice and the School of Education, the University of Birmingham on a project with artist Vanley Burke.

Burke will photograph ten Birmingham residents and families in their social, professional and domestic settings. He has asked each individual and group to bring “a gift to Birmingham”; something that sums up their migratory experience. Participants will share aspects of their cultural heritage from a range of countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Jamaica, Nigeria, Poland and Pakistan.

This partnership forms part of an ESRC-funded research project (the ‘NICE-B’ project) led by Dr Reza Gholami, Reader in Sociology of Education at the University of Birmingham. The project brings together non-formal educators in Birmingham with the city’s diverse communities to explore ways of breaking down inter-communal barriers through innovative education.

Vanley Burke is often described as the ‘Godfather of Black British Photography’: an artist, photographer and curator whose archive, surveying the Black British experience, is held at the Library of Birmingham. His exhibition, At Home with Vanley Burke, took place at Ikon Gallery in 2015.

Migrant Voice is a migrant-led national charity established to develop the skills, capacity and confidence of members of migrant communities, including asylum seekers and refugees to speak out so that policymakers and the public hear our voices on the issues that affect us. Through training and campaigns we work to amplify migrant voices in the media and public life to counter xenophobia and build support for our rights.

Image caption: Linzi Stauvers from Ikon with photographer Vanley Burke and Salman Mirza from Migrant Voice