Find out what happened to local communities when farmland became the urban centre now known as Wythenshawe. Told with a special insight into the generational history of one family – the Adsheads and McLeans, we will explore the question of Who Lost Out When Wythenshawe Was Built.
Our group winning the Spirit Of Manchester 2024 award in the category for ‘Creative Community’ presented to us by Julian Skyrme Director of Social Responsibility at Manchester University and the Mayor of Manchester Councillor Paul Andrews
This was an amazing project where local people created a community portrait of Moss Side at the vibrant Powerhouse community centre, through workshops in photography, writing and magazine making. Involving 45 local people using 100 film cameras through 18 workshops. We created a vibrant photography, creative writing and art exhibition. Also produced and distributed 300 copies of a 100-page full colour professional A4 publication.
Creative Community Spirit award for Powerhouse Portraits
The awards ceremony was held on 3rd October 2024 The Sheridan in Manchester, and we were thrilled to be voted the winner of the ‘Creative Community Spirit’ award. Big thanks especially to the visionary Leo Macdonald Oulds for artistically leading and directing the project, and Kooj Chuhan for the producing and management. Credits also to Lesa Dryburgh for her amazing PR work, First Cut media with Tony Reeves for documenting, Ian Johns for his photography and workshops, and Nasima Bee for the great writing workshops (via Shirley May at Young Identity). And not forgetting our special guest at the exhibition launch, local peace activist Professor Erinma Bell MBE DL JP. Well done to all who made this happen, delivered the project and participated in it to make it such a great project – full details of the awards at https://manchestercommunitycentral.org/spirit-of-manchester/spirit-manchester-awards .
To what extent through history has British identity been influenced by migration? An event with speakers, discussion, Q&A and live music
5.30pm – 7pm, Weds 16th October at Manchester Histories Hub, lower ground floor, Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 5PD
Image includes some of the speakers at the event (upper section), and blurred behind the musician are some of the individuals who have migrated to the North West (lower section – photo credits at end of this article*)
Speakers from the Migration Stories North West project will explore the nature of migrant identity throughout British history and the intersections between the history of migration and issues at the forefront of Black history. Plus we’ll have live music by Jim Parris performing a short set of pieces which resonate with the themes.
There will be an opportunity for open discussion about various perspectives, including questions such as:
– Why are stories of individuals so important for retelling and understanding history? – What do we gain by understanding our history through the lens of migration? – How did colonialism affect migration, and what does it mean for Black history? – Are the migratory roots of historical figures often overlooked or kept hidden? – What do the stories from the project tell us about migration and human rights?
Incl. poetry by Nasima Bee (Young Identity) and special guest local peace activist Professor Erinma Bell MBE DL JP.
Additional speakers from the Moss Side community: writer Deanne Heron, artist Ian Johns and photographer Dorothy Ennis Hand. At Powerhouse, 140 Raby St, Moss Side, Manchester M14 4SL with refreshments, snacks, speakers and musical ambience.
The Powerhouse Portraits Exhibition continues to 31st October
Local people have come together at Powerhouse to portray some of the people and places around Moss Side and nearby that are familiar to them. Three sets of workshops with different ages from 8 to 80 years ran for a period of just six weeks, all groups developing skills in photography using disposable cameras and in creative writing. The participants also developed skills in layout and design, the magazine will reflect the approaches the groups took during the project. Beginning on 22nd May the workshops took place at Powerhouse Community Centre and Library, everyone’s work will be represented in the exhibition and publication.
Workshops in photography, writing and magazine making to create a community portrait of Moss Side – that’s Powerhouse Portraits!
Crossing Footprints are proud to be partners in developing and producing Powerhouse Portraits. Anyone local can join the Powerhouse Portraits Project and be part of a group creating a community portrait of and around Moss Side, have your work featured in a vibrant magazine and exhibition, also create your own photo album to take home. A set of 6 free workshops for young people aged from 13 years up to 18 years or so, living around or near the Moss Side area. Beginning on 23rd May the workshops take place every Tuesday 5pm-7pm at Powerhouse Community Centre and Library, 140 Raby Street, Moss Side M14 4SL.
A groundbreaking new website documenting migration in and out of the North West of England is to be officially launched online on 5 December.
Join the #MigrationStories NW project teams for the online launch of the Migration Stories interactive digital map, documenting stories of individuals who have migrated in and out of our region from the Roman period to the 20th century. Hear from those involved in the project about what they discovered during their research and be among the first to get a glimpse of the map on the project website.
Oldham Libraries and Crossing Footprints present an event which celebrates the final victory day for Bangladesh Independence along with a Climate Connections Women’s Group cultural presentation.
Bangladesh Independence Victory Day Celebration
বাংলাদেশের৫১তমবিজয়দিবসউদযাপন
featuring a programme by Ayna Artsand Climate Connections Women’s Group
জলবায়ু সংযোগ মহিলা গ্রুপ
at Northmoor Library, Wednesday 7th December 2022 4.30-6.30pm
With music and songs by Nuruzzaman Ahmed, Mitra Kabir and Luthfur Rahman
Climate Connections Women’s Group at Northmoor Library
Every Monday 10am-12noon from 7th November 2022
Education, Arts and Action against Climate Change
with Jesmin Chowdhury from Ayna Arts
Meet other women
Learn about climate change
Use your skills
Improve your English
Make something creative and artistic
Some things we hope to support:
improve buses and transport
reduce air pollution
have less litter on our streets
help for Bangladesh
influence local officials
FREE – refreshments will be provided Northmoor Library, Chadderton Way, Oldham OL9 6DH
Climate Connections Women’s Group at Northmoor Library is organised by Crossing Footprints in partnership with Hope For The Future, Ayna Arts and Oldham Libraries
It’s finally here, the Climate Connections Community Festival is happening outdoors at the back of Northmoor Library, Oldham on Saturday 24th Sept 2022, 12 noon – 3pm. Also coming up, free training to better understand and fight climate change on 3rd and 10th October.
So much is and has been happening due to climate change in Bangladesh over the years but so few know about it. There’s so much to say that needs to be out there and much louder than it is. Crossing Footprints are pleased to have co-developed and be supporting this Saturday’s Festival at Northmoor Library Oldham a great event with songs, stories and craftivism connecting with the Climate Emergency and a strong Bangladeshi viewpoint from some amazing artists. If you’re anywhere nearby come on down, and pass the word on.
What’s on at the Climate Connections Community Festival?
The event features Ahad Ullah Shah and Kayes Muktadir singing Bangla songs about climate change co-written with Murad Chowdhury who will also give some musical support. Then there is Apu Chowdhury from Ayna Arts who will deliver some storytelling and drama, and will also be the MC for the day. Also we have the amazing visual and craft climate activist Rabia Begum running a craftivism workshop. The local street will be closed off to be a play street so families and kids can bring their outdoor toys to play with.
Would you like to research the story of someone who migrated any time from ancient history to WWII in North West England? The Migration Stories project will provide training, good support and expenses, it’ll get started in early May 2022 and grow gently over a few months.
The project’s called Migration Stories North Westhttps://migrationstoriesnw.uk , it’s headed by Global Link https://globallink.org.uk/ based in Lancaster, and is a partnership with four other organisations across the North West out of which Crossing Footprints is the one covering the wider Manchester region.
This is a 3 year project unearthing histories of migration in the North West from ancient times to the present day, which will re-frame migration as something that has been fundamental to the UK for a very long time. In this first year Crossing Footprints will be recruiting 8-15 voluntary community researchers to each explore local archives to find individual stories, at least one per volunteer, possibly more if time allows and there’s enough material. Manchester-based author Mickela Sonola will initially be working alongside our director Kooj Chuhan to run this project, and we are honoured to have local historian Washington Alcott as a community research associate for Migration Stories North West.
