This Workshop invited participants to get involved in practising and reflecting on experiences of belonging, participation and exclusion in a multi-ethnic context. How do we address belonging and participation across the arts and research? How do arts-based methods support participation and collaboration?
In an attempt to understand the benefits of cross-sector collaboration of the arts and research for participation, the workshop began with the creation of physical images of participation and belonging. This was facilitated by Erene Kaptani, Participatory Artist of the ‘Participatory Arts and Social Action Research’ (PASAR) project. Members of the research group also reflected on their experiences of participation during workshop discussion. We then explored how arts-based participatory methods could help us understand questions of belonging through a conversation with the PASAR project team: Umut Erel (Open University), Maggie O’Neill (University of York), Erene Kaptani and Tracey Reynolds (University of Greenwich). Theatre Director and Lecturer Karen Tomlin facilitated reflections on what makes a successful collaboration and the issues that may arise for artists located within the arts and the academy.
This event was part of the IAA/ ESRC funded project ‘Migration Making People, Making Places’ and it was part of a week-long series of events looking at questions of belonging, participation, migration and citizenship.