The Matter Of Migration

A one-of-a-kind travelling podcast project that explores new perspectives on migration begins a tour of Sheffield communities this month.

Arts project The Matter of Migration combines fascinating podcast episodes in which participants reflect on their personal journeys, cultural expression, community, identity and migration, with an immersive installation.

It will start its nomadic journey across the city at Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre, where it runs from January 22 - January 28.

João Paulo Simões, the podcast host, sound designer and creator, is also a film director who has documented topics related to migration through his company, Frontier Media. He said: “With the podcasts, I wanted to give a new voice to migrants’ stories and make them pertinent to where we are right now with a very different, immersive experience.

“This project illuminates what migration really is on a personal level, rather than just talking about statistics or in very generic terms.

“I think it is unique, and the feedback we’ve had so far has been very positive.”

The Matter of Migration was launched at Sheffield’s Migration Matters Festival last June. João and Sam Holland, of project co-producer Arts on the Run, also showcased the project in the city’s dedicated podcast festival, Crossed Wires.

In the free multi-sensory installation designed by Liz Von Graevenitz, podcast listeners are surrounded by art devised in community workshops. Called The Pod, it represents both a cocoon or safe space, and a refugee camp.

Symbolically, the project will travel to four more Sheffield communities later this year, including Zest Upperthorpe, from January 29 until February 3.

Each area has been chosen to either reflect or juxtapose the themes of each podcast episode. It is hoped the project will spark dialogue, increase understanding of the reasons for migration and boost community unity.

João added: “We are taking these conversations where they are most needed.

“It’s about connecting on a human level and people realising the struggles which migrants face have a lot more in common with their own than they would imagine.

“One of the things I have found most interesting in making the podcast is that class was a big part of all these discussions.

“The current climate is more about class than the differences between migrants and local or national figures.”

The six podcasts feature 14 co-hosts and participants, ranging from academics to artist Madeleina Kay, flamenco historian Rosa Cisneros, and R&B singer Rumbi Tauro.

Young people from the Sheffield youth charity Element Society, and Kaltum Osman Rivers, the first female African councillor elected in South Yorkshire, are also featured.

The podcasts were all recorded at Spring Tank Studios on Randall Street.

To Listen to the first episode of The Matter of Migration CLICK HERE

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The Matter of Migration has been funded by Arts Council England, Sheffield Council’s Community Cohesion and Resilience Programme, and Sheffield Town Trust.

Remaining project dates and locations will be confirmed later this year.