Made in the Middle: Panel Conversation

How has global migration and diaspora contributed to life and culture in the Midlands?

Join Deirdre Figueiredo, artists Roo Dhissou, Christopher Day and Abigail Villarroel, curator Marta Marsicka and Creative Black Country Creative Director Parminder Dosanjh for a conversation on how life, culture and creativity in the Midlands is influenced, strengthened and enriched by migration and individual and community connections to a global diaspora.

This could be through heritage, lived experiences, ideas, thinking and social, human or cultural practices.

They will consider the following questions:

• How does the way panellists engage and live their lives offer expansive world views and alternative ways of being?
• Are there particular community, faith, beliefs or value systems, such as care, reciprocity, hospitality and service that come into play and are shared?
• Are there indigenous traditions in craft, customs or language that encourages a sense of plurality and help us to reimagine a more just future?
• Are there concepts such as 'jugaad'*  that are shared with the wider community that contribute low-cost opportunities for problem solving?

We invite attendees to share their thoughts and stories in the Q&A.

Image: Made in the Middle Launch, Leicester Gallery January 2025, courtesy Craftspace and Michaela McMillan, photograph by Hayley Salter