Where’s my home now? Reframing the migration debate

Migration and human movement is massively complex and yet the stories we tell are often very simple. As part of our April exhibition, SWAY, this evening is an exploration of some of the economic, environmental and social drivers of migration and asks if there is a better way of to frame the debate around one of the most divisive issues we face today. Talks by Dr Mick Taylor, Robin Gorna and Elaine Ortiz from The Hummingbird Refugee Project.

Mick is a mathematician and social entrepreneur. He has a PhD in mathematical ecology and lecturers at Sussex University. Mick is fascinated by human systems and how they shape our world. He is one of the co-founders of Goodmoney, a Brighton-based social enterprise founded with the mission of making money work better for people and communities. Mick regularly talks on money, power, inequality and social justice and delivers workshops to help people better understand and manage their own relationship with money.

Robin Gorna has been working on social justice and global health for 30 years. In 1986 she became involved with AIDS activism in the UK, motivated by the homophobia and discrimination of the early days of the pandemic. Since then she has worked for government and run civil society groups in the UK, Australia, South Africa and globally, as well as creating a community-based consultancy employing activists in Asia, Africa, Europe & the US. With a firm passion for women and girls rights, she published one of the earliest books about Women and AIDS (Vamps, Virgins and Victims: How can Women fight AIDS?) and most recently she has focused on gender equality and women’s health.

Elaine Ortiz is the Founder and Safeguarding lead at The Hummingbird Refugee Project. The endeavour grew out of one of her art projects, based on the idea that we can all do something (and if we come together we can do more). The project provides aid and solidarity with refugees in Europe and across the world. There are currently over 4000 people living in privation under appalling conditions in and around Calais. Women, men and children are fleeing from conflicts in Syria, Iraq and North Africa seeking safety but are instead being vilified by the media and forced to live under feral conditions. It is an inexcusable humanitarian crisis sitting right on our doorstop and it demands action.

Suggested donation £3, all donations will go towards SWAY. You can also support SWAY by sponsoring one of the birds that will form part of the installation on display in the gallery.

If you have any access requirements please contact / 01273 607101