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

Exhibition 03.07.2023–16.09.2023

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.

Exhibition 17.08.2023–20.08.2023

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.

Exhibition 31.08.2023–03.09.2023

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/Events 23.08.2023 / 6.00pm–7.00pm

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.

Events/Talk 01.09.2023 / 2.00pm–3.00pm

Ayesha Jones and Maryam Wahid in conversation with Nicola Shipley

Artists Ayesha Jones and Maryam Wahid are in conversation with Nicola Shipley, Director, GRAIN Projects, on how photography can be used as a tool for addressing difficult subjects.

LIVE MUSIC

Events/Music 17.08.2023 / 3.00pm–4.00pm

Live music: Yijia Tu

Presented by Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham

Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham presents live music by Chinese singer Yijia Tu.

Events/Music 31.08.2023 / 3.00pm–4.00pm

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/Events 02.09.2023 / 11.00am–3.00pm

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.

Downloads

Document Name	Type	Size	Download
PRESS RELEASE	pdf	428.6 kB

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.