Culture and Migration Conference
In 2020, I produced and curated the Culture and Migration Conference on behalf of the French Institute in Sweden. The Culture and Migration Conference questioned how we can collectively develop local solutions to create a fruitful intercultural exchange that goes beyond the traditional and unilateral concept of ‘integration’. Together, the French Institute in Sweden, the Goethe-Institut Schweden and the Multicultural centre in Botkyrka have organised the online conference ‘Culture and Migration’ to bring together practitioners to reflect on their experience and share learning practice on the cultural welcome of migrants in Sweden, in Germany and in France. Panel 1. Culture as an universal human right: During this panel we will discuss cultural exchange as a universal human right for migrants and refugees. How to co-create, transmit and share culture and creative practices? How can we collectively stimulate a cultural dialogue that will enable newcomers to be creative actors in their new society? What is the role and expertise of cultural organisations and newcomers in creating intercultural learning dialogue? Moderator: Miriam Andersson Blecher – Director of Botkyrka Konsthall Panelists: Baha Swidan – Artist, Cirkus Cirkör Salah Zater – Artist Dirk Korell – Dance producer, Camion aktion Panel 2. Job Cultures - Sharing Skills: Culture is not only about artistic practice and social habits. During this panel we will discuss the following questions: how can we support newcomers to enter the jobs and workplaces? Is it by getting access to the right skills and to understand job cultures? How to address the issue of employment segregation, racism and discrimination? What is the role of trade unions, universities, language courses and civic society towards a more intercultural integration? Moderator: Hediye Güzel – Trade Union Vision Panelists: Omar Al Zankah – Activist and film maker Véronique Simon – Uppsala University and Refugees Welcome Helena Rojas – Development Director, Botkyrka Kommun Chérine Ali – #TF4Women European Scaling Manager, Techfugees Panel 3. Films and Representations: During this panel we will explore and discuss the representations of migrants in films and series. How to depict the stories of migrants beyond the stereotypical representations, articulating individual and collective stories? How can national film bodies enable newcomers to write, develop and fund their projects and films? Moderator: Dennis Harvey – Association Noncitizen Panelists Dominik Moll – Film director Erol Mintas – Film director and founder of the Academy of Moving People and Images Saleh Jamal Eddin – Film director and producer Dina Afkhampour – Ex Director Cinemafrica More info: https://institutfrancais-suede.com/nuit-des-idees-2021-proches/ Picture: 'EDEN' by Dominik Moll