The Migrant Festival 2023

IKON PRESENTS THE FIFTH ANNUAL MIGRANT FESTIVAL (17 AUGUST – 3 SEPTEMBER).

This year’s festival features projects by three Birmingham photographers – Vanley Burke, Maryam Wahid and Ayesha Jones – who are collaborating with inner-city communities to share their stories of migration. The festival also includes artists’ talks, music events by Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham and a family workshop.  

EXHIBITIONS

Exhibition03.07.202316.09.2023
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Vanley Burke
A Gift to Birmingham - at The Exchange, Centenary Square
Presented at The Exchange, the former municipal bank in Centenary Square, Vanley Burke’s exhibition A Gift to Birmingham showcases portraits of members of Migrant Voice.
Exhibition17.08.202320.08.2023
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Ayesha Jones
Leave A Light In My Room
For her exhibition Leave A Light In My Room, Birmingham-born artist Ayesha Jones has been commissioned by Birmingham Hospice and Ikon to take photographs of, and document conversations with, the Erdington Asian Group, north Birmingham.
Exhibition31.08.202303.09.2023
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Maryam Wahid
Dreams of Brum
Ikon presents Dreams of Brum, an exhibition of photographic portraits by Birmingham-based photographer Maryam Wahid, taken at Handsworth Library during a series of creative community workshops with printmaker Haseebah Ali.

TALKS

Off-site/Events23.08.2023 / 6.00pm7.00pm
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Vanley Burke in conversation with Dr Reza Gholami
SOLD OUT
Vanley Burke is in conversation with Dr Reza Gholami, Deputy Director of the Centre for Research in Race and Education, University of Birmingham, about his artistic practice and photographing Birmingham’s diverse communities to inform a more inclusive and engaging education in schools around themes of diversity, belonging and equality.

LIVE MUSIC

Events/Music17.08.2023 / 3.00pm4.00pm
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Live music: Yijia Tu
Presented by Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham
Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham presents live music by Chinese singer Yijia Tu.
Events/Music31.08.2023 / 3.00pm4.00pm
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Live music: Tala Tarang
Presented by Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham
Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham presents live music by Tala Tarang, a tabla and harp duet with Mendi Singh and Eleanor Turner.

FAMILY

Off-site/Events02.09.2023 / 11.00am3.00pm
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Family Saturday
With Maryam Wahid
Families are invited to have their photograph taken by award-winning photographer Maryam Wahid at The Exchange, in Centenary Square.

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HISTORY OF THE MIGRANT FESTIVAL

Ikon’s first Migrant Festival took place in 2018 and was co-curated by artist and designer Osman Yousefzada, to coincide with his first solo exhibition.

In 2019 the festival took place during Hew Locke’s exhibition and included a key note talk between the artist and Rt Hon David Lammy MP.

The 2020 festival was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, however Ikon and Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham presented Soapbox videos as part of World Refugee Day and Midsummer Festival.

The 2021 festival comprised digital and live events. It was closely linked with Osman Yousefzada’s major public art installation Infinity Pattern 1 at Selfridges Birmingham.

The 2022 festival was part of Ikon’s Arrivals programme, organised to coincide with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

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