The story of human migration is to be told as part of a four-day programme of music, art, film and talks.
The annual Migrant Festival, now in its fourth year, is to take place at the Ikon Gallery in Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, from 14 to 17 July.
It aims to celebrate the contribution made by refugees and migrants to Birmingham and the UK.
In particular, the festival highlights the migrant stories of artists within Ikon’s programme, including Abdulrazaq Awofeso and Osman Yousefzada.
The Migrant Festival is part of Ikon’s Arrivals programme this summer, which is concerned with the international movement of people and ideas.
It has been organised to coincide with the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, which start later this month. Events during the 2022 festival include:
- a talk with Guyanese-British artist Hew Locke at Birmingham Cathedral; · the launch of the A Gift to Birmingham exhibition by photographer Vanley Burke at Saathi House, Aston;
- archive qawwali music curated by artist Faisal Hussain for the Balsall Heath Film Festival at Moseley Community Hub; and · Ikon’s annual Soapboxes event at Yorks Café, featuring individuals and groups supporting migrants in the Midlands.
Hew Locke’s talk with Dr Gus Casely-Hayford, which is one of the opening events of the festival on 14 July, includes a discussion about his new public artwork, Foreign Exchange, and his reimagining of the Queen Victoria sculpture. The launch of A Gift to Birmingham follows the next day, with each of Vanley’s images telling a story of migration.
Other events on 15 July include a talk by Nigerian artist Abdulrazaq Awofeso, during which he discusses his Ikon exhibition, Out of Frame, and the launch of an exhibition by Pakistan artist Adeela Suleman entitled Allegory of War.
Saturday 16 July sees talks with artists Faisal Hussain and Osman Yousefzada, and workshops involving artists Haseebah Ali, at Ikon, and Rafal Zar on Slow Boat at Minerva Works.
The festival concludes on 17 July with a concert at Yorks Café, Ikon, featuring some of Birmingham’s finest musicians, including the Lekan Babalola Trio.
For more information, visit https://www.ikon-gallery.org/page/the-migrant-festival-2022?mc_cid=734b960223&mc_eid=9b9780d43f
Main picture: Hugh Locke and his reimagining of the Queen Victoria statue outside Birmingham’s Council House. © Shaun Fellows / Shine Pix
