The Migration Museum launched the Artist Showcase series to call out local artists to show their migration stories in their own way, which is a part of the activities of Lewisham London Borough of Culture 2022.
As a cultural partner for Lewisham London Borough of Culture 2022, the Migration Museum provides a platform for local artists with migrant heritage to spotlight their work in the windows of the museum, which is located in Central Square in the heart of Lewisham Shopping Centre.
If you’re a Lewisham-based artist with migrant heritage who would like to showcase your work in our large windows in the heart of @Lewishamcentre we’d love to hear from you. Find out more and apply here https://t.co/pvHDEvfmwq #ArtistCallOut pic.twitter.com/OHWp0gcbdR
— Migration Museum (@MigrationUK) December 3, 2021
Matthew Plowright, head of Communications of Migration Museum, said: “We want to support local artists and enable their work to be seen by as wide an audience as possible.”
The UK has a long history of migration stretching back many centuries, and the migration culture shapes people’s identities. Matthew said it is the right time for people to “come together to share stories, understand our connections to each other and explore how the movement of people has shaped so many of the things that we know and love – from sport to music, art to fashion.”
Elisabeth Lecourt is the first artist featured in the window display, moved to England at the age of 20 from Oloron Sainte-Marie, a small town at the foot of the Pyrenees mountains.
Elizabeth turns maps into the shape of clothing, to understand the identities of people. She said the way people dress reflects “where we come from and who we are”. She always focuses on people’s emotions and experiences in her artworks.
Sharing the migration stories can help people understand each other better and make the community more inclusive, she added.
The Migration Museum will have a wide range of activities co-created by and with the local community planned throughout the year. There will be a new exhibition exploring how and why entrepreneurship has been at the heart of the migrant experience in the UK and how newcomers have overcome challenges to set up businesses that have transformed all our lives.
Also, a competition opens to all young people in Lewisham inviting teams to design their own exhibit or display for the Migration Museum. Specific dates and details of these projects will be announced shortly.