Migration, identity and how it makes us who we are

A new approach to research on migration and identity is being taken in a groundbreaking £5.5m initiative, led by Leeds professor of religious studies Kim Knott and bringing together projects and networks across the UK.

The five-year ‘diasporas, migration and identities’ initiative was officially launched by the arts and humanities research council in April and will involve academics, with public bodies and the cultural and voluntary sectors, in examining issues such as: “Why do some migrant and diasporic identities get represented more than others in literature and the media?” and “Can there be diasporas without migration, for example the gay diaspora, anti-capitalist or terror networks as diaspora?”

Professor Knott said: “The movement of people, ideas and things, and the desire of migrants to preserve and share memories while adapting to new societies and building new futures are timely themes, although not new ones. Our challenge now is to develop historical and cultural knowledge about these migration processes, to break new ground in how we study them, and to turn issues that have often been seen as social problems into cultural opportunities.”

The official launch took place at the country’s only museum of immigration and diversity at 19 Princelet Street in London’s East End, a monument to the experiences of migrants. “Entering the building, you get the immediate impression of the generations of people who have passed through this special place,” said Professor Knott. “Their experiences are presented by today’s children, imaginatively re-creating the histories of many centuries of incomers.
“Newly arrived artists, refugees themselves, add their voices and insights. It is this narrative tradition, this wealth of stories, that we hope to capture in the programme,” she added.

For more information on the initiative and a full programme specification see the AHRC website. For more information on 19 Princelet Street see their website.

Photo: 19 Princelet Street – a suitcase of silk threads evokes how the fabric of Britain is woven from the entwined lives of many migrants (Joel Pike/19 Princelet Street)