Monday, 30 September 2024
An anthology of brand-new poems, celebrating migrant experience and grassroots creativity in the region, will launch at Nottingham Playhouse later this week.
Containing over 70 poems, essays and illustrations, the book titled Poetics of Migration marks the end of an Arts and Humanities Research Council Impact Accelerator Account (AHRC IAA)-funded project led by Dr Hongwei Bao, Associate Professor in Media Studies at the 糖心原创.
The anthology’s title also gives its name to a fund-raising book launch and performance evening on 3 October, held at the theatre, to celebrate the creativity of migrants, refugees and ordinary people in Nottinghamshire. Tickets can be booked directly through the website.
Comprising work from more than 30 people living in, or connected to Nottinghamshire, the 100-page book – which is edited by Kathleen Dunmore and published by Notts Poetry – provides a platform for ordinary people to express themselves through literature. Celebrating migrant agency and creativity, the contributors come from different walks of life and have various migration experience – some are well published poets, but many are new to writing and publishing poetry.
The performance evening at 7:30pm on Thursday 3 October will feature around fifteen participants who will perform their poetry on stage and share their stories about language, home, food, identity, community and social justice.
Arts and humanities knowledge can be used to empower ordinary people and make social change. This book is a good example of how the community uses literature to express themselves and their relationship to place, identity and social justice.鈥�
The book is the outcome of a six-month Knowledge Exchange project, in collaboration with Notts Poetry and Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum. Through a series of workshops in the summer, Notts Poetry worked with migrants, refugees and ordinary citizens to share their stories about migration experience.
This project is a wonderful opportunity for Notts Poetry to showcase the rich diversity of voices in our community. Poetics of Migration brings together a wide range of experiences and stories that reflect the true spirit of Nottingham. By focusing on migrant voices and grassroots creativity, this anthology helps us highlight and celebrate the unique contributions of these individuals, demonstrating the power of poetry to connect and inspire.鈥�
The book launch will be a fundraising event to support the work of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Refugee Forum. Tickets can be purchased from for £5 (free for refugees and asylum seekers), however two complimentary tickets are available for each media organisation via hongwei.bao@nottingham.ac.uk. The book can be purchased at the event or from .
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Hongwei Bao, Associate Professor in Media Studies in the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies, via hongwei.bao@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
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