Changing lenses-Glasgow stories of integration

Changing lenses-Glasgow stories of integration

Photography project unites migrant and Scottish-born Glaswegians

A ground-breaking new project exploring social integration and community through the lens of a camera will launch in Scotland on January 29 2018. Changing Lenses will provide free professional workshops to migrants and citizens in which they will learn valuable skills while exploring their connections and identities.

The project is organised by Migrant Voice, who supports migrants to speak in the media and public life and is hosted by the Centre for Contemporary Art. It follows the All Party Parliamentary Group on Social Integration sounding the alarm on cohesion in August, pointing out that the hostile tone of debate and lack of support for community organisations is throwing up barriers to successful settlement and integration.

Changing Lenses was piloted in London over the autumn and funded by Big Lottery - Awards for All England. Previous Migrant Voice-led arts projects include, A Story in a Poem, where Glaswegians of all backgrounds produced an original poetry anthology together over several months.

Changing Lenses will be led Migrant Voice’s Glasgow Network Community Officer Amparo Fortuny, who is also a film director and producer with Photographer Karen Gordon. It will run from the end of January through to March, and close with an exhibition of participants’ work.