How can creative practice help build solidarity across borders and amplify the voices of migrant workers?
Vera Ion from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama explores transnational solidarities and dialogue between Eastern and Western communities, with a particular focus on migrant labourers from Eastern Europe, especially Romania.
Vera’s research combines archival investigation with practice-based methods to uncover histories of solidarity movements and resistance among migrant workers. Alongside this, her creative practice uses performance as a means of fostering dialogue and connection across communities.
The conversation also explores her methodological approach of “weaving discussions”, designed to create continuity and shared space among migrant experiences, using tools such as collective bulletins and letter writing. Vera reflects on the importance of discussion groups, particularly among women, to address workplace intimidation and exploitation.
Looking ahead, she shares her plans to develop a participatory school for migrant labourers, aiming to create a platform for engagement with wider society and to strengthen transnational connections through creative practice.
This is a Research Podcasts production.
You can access a transcript of this conversation here.
Episode Credits:
Presenter and Producer: Catherine McDonald, Research Podcasts
Guests: Vera Ion, Central School for Speech and Drama
Editor: Anton Jarvis, Research Podcasts
Music: Podcast Interview Intro Music by Dmitrii Spis, Pixabay
","author_name":"London Arts & Humanities Partnership"}