GRAMNet Information Bulletin 18 May 2012
1. Events
For full events listing, please visit our events website.
Old MacDonald had a Farm for Africa - The Grand Launch
18th May 2012, 7:30 pm, Glasgow Art Club, 185 Bath Street
Join us for what promises to be one of the most memorable poetry events Glasgow has seen in recent years. A very special St Mungo’s Mirrorball event. Liz Lochhead and Jim Carruth have set up the Old MacDonald had a Farm for Africa project to support Oxfam’s work with rural communities by raising funds to provide essential materials and resources for local farmers and it is hoped that other Young MacDonalds will raise money through their own projects across Scotland during the year. Confirmed so far are:
Liz Lochhead, Alasdair Gray , Douglas Dunn, Bernard Mclaverty, Aonghas MacNeacail, Rab Wilson, Gerrie Fellows , Miriam Gamble, Peter Mckay, Gerry Cambridge, Tawona Sithole, Robyn Marsack, Eleanor Livingstone, Lesley Duncan, and Jim Carruth.
It is a very special night and a very important one. But hurry - the event will be limited to only 100 people so it very unlikely you will be able to just turn up on the night. Tickets cost £10 and can be bought at the Oxfam Bookshop on Royal Exchange Square, or call Gillian on 0141 248 9176.
Beasts of the Imagination Symposium
19 May 2012, The Burrell Collection, Pollok Country Park
A Series of talks from leading specialists will explore animal representation in Persian and Mughal Indian cultures. Amongst the guest speakers in Dr Steven J Cohen, the leading expert on Mughal Indian animal carpets, who will talk about Burrell Collection's examples. Free and open to the public.
Springtime
19 May 2012, 7pm, Tron Theatre
Come and see 'Springtime' as part of Mayfesto at the Tron Theatre. Ankur Productions works with six Scottish Arabs and six Egyptians artists via the internet creating a Cyper Performance as part of Mayfesto appearing at the Tron Theatre.
Digital media and live theatre combine in this Cyber event which sees a joint performance in Egypt and Glasgow. Two groups performing together, sharing audiences and narratives in separate locations; a local and global perspective from two locations connected via the internet. Live theatre, skype, music and video are entwined as they deliver their narrative.
The two groups of Scottish Arabs and Egyptians have create a repsonse to contemporary events which is unvield as the performance progresses. What will be the outcome of their connections? How will they respond to what has happened? The ripple effect of events across the globe can be felt as social media offers a way to bring the world closser, yet offers a cloak of anonymity.
Springtime: What happened in Glasgow? Where are they now? Discover the truth.
Women seeking refuge in a climate of cuts
23 May 2012, London, 7-8.30pm followed by refreshments (registration at 6.30pm)
Venue: The Human Rights Action Centre, Amnesty International UK, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3EA (Nearest Tube: Old Street)
Launching the second edition of Seeking Refuge? A handbook for asylum-seeking women. Rights of Women invite you to the launch of the second edition of our handbook, Seeking Refuge? A handbook for asylum-seeking women. Join our expert panel of speakers to discuss the problems facing women with gender-based asylum and other immigration claims in the current climate, and help identify potential strategies to ensure their effective protection.
Speakers:
- Natasha Walter, writer, broadcaster and campaigner. Founder and director, Women for Refugee Women
- Dr Kathryn Cronin, Garden Court Chambers
- Sheona York, Legal Officer, Rights of Women
Invited: UK Border Agency
Map: http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=10151
Wine and refreshments will be served. The event will also give you the opportunity visit stalls run by Asylum Aid and the Asylum Support Appeals Project and others, to network and discuss legal and policy concerns with panellists and co-activists.
This event is CPD accredited by the Bar Standards Board and Law Society for 1.5 CPD points.
Seeking Refuge? has been updated to help asylum-seeking women cope better in a world with very limited access to legal aid. It has been expanded to incorporate further details and examples of the main difficulties women face in pursuing an asylum claim. It provides clear information about the asylum process to asylum-seeking women and those who support them. The revised edition is launched against a backdrop of deepening cuts affecting the voluntary and community sector organisations and the legal aid system upon which asylum seeking women depend. Although asylum is to remain covered by legal aid it is feared that, because of the burdensome financial structure of legal aid contracting, many providers who currently carry out asylum casework and representation along with immigration casework will not survive a financial contract based on asylum casework alone. There has always been great difficulty in accessing good asylum law providers, and we fear that many more asylum-seekers will not be able to find a competent adviser.
Booking information: To secure a place at the launch please complete the booking form by clicking on the link (Rights For Women Form ) and email it to events@row.org.uk.
GRAMNet Film Series 2011/12 - Immigrant Nation! : The Battle for the Dream (2010)
Wednesday 23 May 2012, 6.30pm, Centre for Contemporary Arts CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
Imagine that you open your door one day to find police officers standing before you and requesting to see your documentation. This is the cataclysmic opening scene to Esaú Melemdez’s shockingly poignant documentary, featuring a single mother named Elvira Arellano and her American-born son, Saul. Faced with the dilemma of vehemently protesting the deportation mandate or temporarily leaving her child behind so that he may continue living in America, Elvira realizes the full potential of the Latino American human rights movement.
We will be joined by Anna Beesley, coordinator of Scottish Detainee Visitors (SDV). Anna will say a few words about their work and suggest how people can get involved. Screenings are free of charge, open to all. Please note that this screening starts later than usual at 6.30pm. Should you wish to reserve a ticket please contact the CCA directly.
Drawing Communities Together: Art for Sustainable Communities: Seminar & Exhibition by Daniel Connell
24 May 2012, St Andrews Building, University of Glasgow, Eldon St
E14 on campus map: http://www.gla.ac.uk/media/media_1887_en.pdf
- Seminar: 5.15 – 6.00pm Lecture Theatre 213 (Level 2)
- Exhibition and reception: 6.00 – 8.00pm Gallery (level 5)
The exhibition will be open at the L5 Gallery between 23-25 May
The work of Australian Artist Daniel Connell has been exploring the role of the visual arts in enhancing a sense of belonging through large scale, hand drawn portraits of recent migrants placed in public places in cities such as Adelaide, Chandigarh and most recently Vancouver. The works are attempting to push the visual arts into an arena which can influence public policy and opinion. Connell’s work has been developed thanks to the support of the University of South Australia Human Rights and Security Research and Innovation Cluster.
Social sustainability annunciates the long term benefits of harmonious, resilient and happy communities. Art plays a role in allowing moments of reflection on the intrinsic value of a human life. Connell's work is underpinned by an idea that his large yet tenderly and carefully constructed portraits can provoke brief but intimate introductions across cultural or class barriers.
Download poster: 120524 D Connell Exhibit flyer
Please register for the event at: http://gramnet-connell.eventbrite.com/
Conference: Highly skilled migration in the 21st century
24 and 25 May, Hendon campus
Research in the field of migration has tended to focus on the multifarious international diasporas of the poor and the powerless. Taking important new research in the field of intra-European highly-skilled migration as its launching point - French Capital: A Study of French Highly Skilled Migrants in London’s Financial and Business Sectors (Mulholland and Ryan) - this conference will provide a forum for international researchers to share, review and debate new empirical and theoretical developments in the field of international and intra-European highly-skilled migration. In particular, it will concern itself with exploring the interplay between the economic, socio-cultural, spatial and life-cycle dynamics shaping this under-researched field of human mobility. Further information: http://www.mdx.ac.uk/aboutus/news-events/events/migration-event.aspx
Joint Book Launch - Colin Poole and Tawona Sithole
31 May 2012, CCA Cubroom
Glasgow-based poets Colin Poole and Tawona Sithole launch their poetry collections ‘Verse Versus the Bourgoisie’ and ‘In Living Spirit’, with a chance to buy the book, have it signed and meet the authors. http://cca-glasgow.com/page=236B7D10-868E-4F86-A306909B378E5655&eventid=6B4D4062-C87E-4B21-88AA578D45D83E03
GRAMNet Postgraduate Colloquium: Migration in times of economic crises
11 June 2012, University of Glasgow
‘Migration in times of economic crises’ is a one-day interdisciplinary postgraduate colloquium which aims to reflect on the challenges facing those who take part in any form of transnational migration, during times of economic crisis. Bringing together research students from across the UK and Europe, the colloquium will present multi-disciplinary perspectives on key areas of migration affected by economic crises.
The colloquium is free but registration is required. To register, please email gramnet.pg@gmail.com
Keynote address: Dr Liza Schuster, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology at City University, London
Session 1: Labour & Migration
- Reconfiguring migrant economies: moving beyond the market economy (Rebecca Folly, University of St. Andrews)
- Chinese temporary migrant workers in Japan in times of economic crisis (Ci Chen, University of Bristol)
- Integration into profession: Refugee doctors and teachers in the UK (Emilia Pietka, University of Strathclyde)
Session 2: EU Policy
- Managing labour immigration at the EU level (Sonia Gsir, Université de Liège)
- Internal European Migration: Welfare and economization (Kamila Feddek, University of Glasgow)
- The new ‘Frontex’ regulation: Potential and weaknesses of its impact on human rights protection in EU external border management (Melanie Fink, Universität Wien)
Session 3: Experiences and perceptions of migration
- The lack of materiality in the homes of asylum-seekers and refugees in Belfast and the struggle for employment (Malcolm Franklin, University of Belfast)
- Public attitudes to migration and the media in Scotland (Jason Bergen, University of Stirling)
Please download the event poster: 120611 GRAMNet PG Colloquium poster
GRAMNet Book Club: Reading Across Worlds
12 June 2012
We agreed that we would meet next on Tuesday 12th June, 5.30-7.00 and we will be discussing Edward de Waal’s The Hare with Amber Eyes. Copies of the book are available on Amazon at the moment for about £3.00. For further information please contact Andy Smith [andrew.smith.2@glasgow.ac.uk]
Theatre Reportage Workshops for Actors, Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Human Rights activists.
18-22 June 2012, 12 June 2012, GTAC, 7 Water Row, Govan
With Annet Henneman, founder, director and actress of Teatro di Nascosto – Hidden Theatre. For fourteen years Annet has travelled into areas of conflict and oppression to live beside and among people whose voices are silenced, ignored or forgotten. From the years of travel across countries including Iran, Kurdistan, Palestine, Iraq and of her life and work with refugees; listening to and living together with those who endure the day to day consequences of war, oppression and poverty, there comes again and again the request: “Don’t forget us”.
Workshop information: A programme of practical training workshops to explore theatre “as reportage”, culminating in a public performance at the end of the week for Refugee Week.
Workshops are supported by Theatre Found, GTAC (Glasgow Theatre and Arts Collective) and St Mungo Museum (CurioUS Project) .
Cost: £120 for week programme. (Subsidised places for Refugees and Asylum seekers, please contact for details.)
Please contact Carrie Newman at theatrefound@hotmail.co.uk or on 07811739234 for more information/ or to book a place. Places limited to 20.
Ripple Effect
23 June 2012, 12-2pm, Govanhill Baths
A fun event for the whole family, celebrating the heritage and shared future of the Govanhill Baths, and the community. A chance to participate in games, as well as exciting performances of drama, poetry and music. Donations welcome. Contact: seeds_ofthought@yahoo.co.uk
2. Training Events
Scottish Refugee Council Training Events
The SRC runs a variety of training events throughout the year. Course descriptions and booking information can be found at http://www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk/training
Scottish Graduate School of Social Sciences Summer School (18-20 June)
The Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGS) is delighted to announce its first annual Summer School to be held at the University of Edinburgh on 18-20 June 2012. This exciting event is aimed at postgraduates in Scotland who are studying any discipline within social science. Events will include discipline-specific training, masterclasses and workshops, led by experts in the field. This advanced training will appear alongside other practical activities based around transferable skills, knowledge exchange and specialised IT packages, specifically relevant to your needs. Each day will culminate in a plenary session, bringing together social science experts from within and out with Scotland.
On-course students pursuing doctoral study in social science programmes at SGS member institutions are entitled to free attendance. Eligible students may also receive help with travel costs and accommodation. Please register early interest by emailing events@socsciscotland.ac.uk with your name, university and programme of study.
International training: Your Power, Our Power
2nd-7th September 2012, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Empowerment as means to promote active citizenship and inclusive societies.
The training: The Your Power, Our Power training is an empowerment training for educators, trainers, students, and social activists who want to learn methods and approaches that empower disenfranchised and socially or economically disadvantaged people like migrants, refugees and unemployed and that leads to social action for a fair society without discrimination and inequality.
For everyone who wants to empower people that they can deal with discrimination and exclusion and those who wants to find new ways to work towards an inclusive society. If you want more information or if you want to apply for the training, please contact training coordinator TikHo Ong (senior trainer RADAR): th.ong@radar.nl
3. Funding Opportunities & Vacancies
CRCEES 3-month Placement Opportunities (x2)
Centre for Russian, Central and East European Studies (CRCEES) is offering two placements in conjunction with the British Library (London) and GRAMNet. Each placement is intended to be of 1-3 months duration. The British Library placement is tenable between September and December 2012. The GRAMNet placement is tenable between July and September 2012.
The successful candidate for each placement will receive a placement stipend of £1,200 per month.
These opportunities are open to applications from taught and research students registered at a UK CRCEES partner institutions (Glasgow, Aberdeen, Durham, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Nottingham, St. Andrews and Strathclyde). You do not need to be registered on a CRCEES Programme to apply.
Application deadline: 4 June 2012
Please email your CV and a 1-page outline of why you are particularly suitable for this placement to Mrs Ann Mullholland (CRCEES Administrator): Ann.Mulholland@glasgow.ac.uk
Please download the information documents below for full details:
4. Call for Papers
MeLa - Migrating heritage: networks and collaborations across European museums, libraries and public cultural institutions
International Conference, University of Glasgow, UK, 3-4 December 2012
How can museums define new innovative practices, spaces and policies that reflect the challenges of the contemporary processes of globalisation, mobility and migration? This question is being addressed by European Museums in an age of migrations - MeLa (http://www.mela-project.eu/), a 4-year collaborative research project funded by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme, Socio-Economic Sciences and Humanities Program (FP7).
Submissions
Authors are requested to submit 500 words abstracts and 300 words bio, followed by full papers (max 7 pages). Paper submissions should follow the general Ashgate submission guidelines (http://www.ashgate.com/Default.aspx?page=2902) and must comply with the formatting instructions. All papers should be submitted in PDF format via EasyChair online submission system at https://www.easychair.org/account/signin.cgi?conf=mela2012rf03 . You will need to sign up for an account for submitting your paper. An international panel of experts will review the submissions.
For full information please download: MELA Migrating heritage - Call for papers
Contact chairs at mela2012conference@glasgow.ac.uk
Website: http://wp3.mela-project.eu/wp/pages/research-field-03-international-conference
5. Notices
Equality Matters: A review of the equality impacts of the EHRC’s Strategic Funding Programme in Scotland
For the last three years, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has been pleased to be able to provide project based funding for community and voluntary organisations across Scotland. These organisations have provided guidance, advice and advocacy services, worked to reduce people’s experience of prejudice and focused on building capacity and self sustaining communities.
In March of this year, the Commission held a special event to recognise the work of the seven projects funded in Scotland in 2010/11, and to draw on their good practice to identify equality lessons that can be carried forward by those who work to make Scotland a fairer place.
We also produced a publication ‘Equality Matters’ (http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/uploaded_files/Scotland/grants/final_proof_pdf.pdf ) and a short film showcasing their work. (http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/scotland/commission-funding-in-scotland/ )
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the organisations and individuals who have helped raise the visibility of equalities issues in Scotland through their expertise, vision and drive. They have helped to break down discrimination and deliver real outcomes for individuals and communities, based firmly on the foundation of equality. Kaliani Lyle, EHRC Commissioner for Scotland
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