top of page
Global Migrant Festival 2020 Events
Click on the dates below to view the different interesting events happening.
All events will be streamed live on our Facebook page.
- 21 Nov 2020, 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020In this panel discussion, three acclaimed refugee photographers and artists share their work and discuss visual arts in the context of migration, and in the process illustrate their lived refugee experiences through their art.
- 21 Nov 2020, 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020Hear from acta community theatre in Bristol, England, an internationally renowned theatre company that works with disadvantaged people to give them the confidence to tell their stories through theatre. In this talk they’ll explain why storytelling is so important for refugee and migrant communities.
- Sat 21 Nov21SatNov6pm - 7pm | Conversation with Daria Bogdanska: Author of Wage Slaves21 Nov 2020, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020Daria Bogdanska, author of Wage Slaves (2017), presents her autobiographical novel in which she illustrates difficulties of building a life in Sweden from a working-class immigrant perspective. She highlights the inequity & exploitative nature of the underground job market.
- 21 Nov 2020, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020Rapper Dule Rocker is a migrant worker from India who is also a rapper. His talent has led to him becoming a Youtube sensation, and he uses his voice to bring to light issues such as corruption, violence in society as well as the plight of migrant workers in India during the pandemic.
- 21 Nov 2020, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020This session will feature five very talented contracted colleagues from New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) presenting the migrant worker experience in the UAE.
- 21 Nov 2020, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm SGTOnline EventJoin these talented refugee writers as they use Literature to imagine new horizons beyond the disenfranchisement, marginalisation and displacement that is very much a part of the life of a refugee.
- 21 Nov 2020, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020Taiwan is a country with migrant workers from many different countries. Letters of Taiwan aims to amplify these diverse voices via the literary works of some of the winners from the annual Taiwan Migrant Literature Competition. Thereafter, participants will be involved in a panel for discussion.
- Sat 21 Nov21SatNov11am | The Festival Opens21 Nov 2020, 11:00 am SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020Join us for the launch of the Migrant Workers Festival 2020, where an overview of the festival will be provided. Featuring speeches by organisers, supporters, sponsors, and migrants.
21 November
- Sun 22 Nov22SunNov9pm - 10pm | As a woman migrant: A response through literature22 Nov 2020, 9:00 pm – 10:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020While the gender characteristics of migration are now being finally studied, this session will feature award winning women writers of migrant background to understand how they consider their literary activities as a response to the context of migration.
- 22 Nov 2020, 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020This session will showcase the work of the Golden Waves project in Italy. In response to the hardline migrant policy adopted by Italy, the 'Golden Waves' art project promotes solidarity for migrants. The session will feature a panel discussion with the founder of the project and key participants.
- 22 Nov 2020, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020In late April of 2017, Fan Yusu, then a domestic migrant worker in China, became an overnight literary sensation in China when her essay “I Am Fan Yusu” was published on online platform Noonstory.com and soon went viral. This session features a discussion with Fan Yusu about her latest works.
- 22 Nov 2020, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020First held in 2015, the Migrant Worker & Refugee Poetry Competition, Malaysia, has quickly established itself as one of the key events in the cultural calendar in Malaysia. This session will feature the finals of the 2020 competition with readings by shortlisted contestants and winners announcement.
- 22 Nov 2020, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020This poetic play -- which consists 6 poems written by poets from 3 different countries -- aims to explore what we’ve missed, amidst our fast-paced lives. Through exploring diverse stories, Zebra Crossing explores life as a crossroad of unheard human stories, and poetry as the rhythm to unify them.
- 22 Nov 2020, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020This session showcases the diverse, artistic talent of Migrant Workers from Hong Kong. This includes painting, tattooing, culinary fruit art as well as fashion design. Following which, a panel discussion will allow for the artists to showcase the relevance of the arts in the migrant context.
- Sun 22 Nov22SunNov11am - 12pm | The sounds of migration: The Tacoma Refugee Choir22 Nov 2020, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020This session will feature a musical performance by Tacoma Refugee Choir, a non-auditioned choral ensemble. The choir is a welcoming community of refugees, immigrants, & second-generation Americans who use the power of music to share their stories, unite their community & demonstrate their diversity.
22 November
25 Nov
- Wed 25 Nov25WedNov8pm - 10pm | At the Border: Effects of state policy25 Nov 2020, 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020As they move between territories, jurisdictions, and cultures, how do state actors influence the barriers migrants face and the conditions they endure? | Prof Deepak Mishra |Priscilla Lugo & Emma Israel |Hema Kalamogan |Moderator: Theophilus Kwek
- Thu 26 Nov26ThuNov8pm - 10pm | In Their Words: Migrant Narratives and Voices26 Nov 2020, 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020How do we ensure that migrants’ perspectives, concerns, and histories have their rightful place in our collective understanding – and how do we remake our maps and archives to represent their knowledge?
26 Nov
27 Nov
- Fri 27 Nov27FriNov8pm - 10pm | Round-up: Where do we go from here?27 Nov 2020, 8:00 pm SGTOnline EventThis session discusses lessons from the panelists's own experiences of research and advocacy in the Singapore context, and suggests some new directions or ways forward for those who may be keen to practice research/advocacy on issues facing Singapore's migrant communities.
- 27 Nov 2020, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pmhttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020(organized by CEDEM, Liège University, Belgium) Through research and performance art, Shannon Damery and Elsa Mescoli provide a window into the migrant experiences, based upon their research as well as experiences on the ground. Moderated by Marco Martiniello
- 27 Nov 2020, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020(organized by CEDEM, Liège University, Belgium) Through research and performance art, Basel Adoum, Laila Dib, Amanda da Silva and Anthony Lefebvre provide a window into the migrant experience, based upon their research as well as experiences on the ground. Moderated by Wiebke Sievers
28 Nov
- Sat 28 Nov28SatNov8pm - 9pm | Katthu Pattu: Songs of Migrant Love and Separation28 Nov 2020, 8:00 pm – 9:00 pmOnline EventKathu Pattu (“letter songs”) are songs based on letters exchanged by migrants from the southern Indian state of Kerala to the Gulf and and their wives left behind. This session will showcase a father-daughter duo singing Kathu Pattu songs and an interview with them.
- Sat 28 Nov28SatNov7pm - 8pm | Film Screening: Spartacus28 Nov 2020, 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020In his film, 'I Am Spartacus,' Haim Sokol reconstructs a scene from Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus (1960). From Ancient Rome, action moves to today’s Moscow where the roles are played by labor migrants from Kyrghyzstan.
- Sat 28 Nov28SatNov5pm - 6pm | We Migrate, We Labor, We Write28 Nov 2020, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020This session will have three prolific migrant worker-writers from China sharing their exciting works. Xiao Hai and Wan Huashan are based in Picun, Beijing and Wu Ji in Fujian province. They often write about migrant workers’ life in China. Let’s listen to their poetic and powerful voices!
- 28 Nov 2020, 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020The Make Art Not Walls project is the brainchild of a longtime Trevi resident, Australian artist Virginia Ryan. This session will showcase the work of the project that aims to bring out the human potential and restore dignity to people stranded in limbo.
- Sat 28 Nov28SatNov3pm - 4pm | Voices of Syria: The art of Syrian refugees28 Nov 2020, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020This session will feature poetry and music of Syrian refugees in Malaysia followed by a panel discussion.
- Sat 28 Nov28SatNov2pm - 3pm | Iron, rock, factory and men28 Nov 2020, 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020In Migrant worker poetry, home sickness is often a very important theme. But what is their relationship with the factory, their new "home" away from home? In this panel discussion, 4 poets & researchers of various backgrounds from mainland China and Taiwan will share their work & discuss.
- Sat 28 Nov28SatNov11am - 12pm | Borders and Brutality: Music, Story, Power28 Nov 2020, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020Through performances followed by a panel discussion, this session will showcase how Common Ground Voices / La Frontera brings together a diverse group of artists in community music and peace-building projects situated at the border of Mexico and the United States.
- 29 Nov 2020, 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020Nasreddin is a multi-language publication in Russia covering events about migrants who go to Russia looking for work. The paper raises important issues,including real experiences of labor migrants.This session will feature some artwork from the publications & a discussion with involved artists.
- Sun 29 Nov29SunNov7pm - 9pm | Film Discussion: The Helper29 Nov 2020, 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020In her film, The Helper, Joanna Bowers chronicles diverse stories from Hong Kong's migrant workers, exploring their immense contribution to society in the face of heartbreaking separation from their loved ones.
- 29 Nov 2020, 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm SGThttps://tinyurl.com/gmfevent2020Finals of the annual Finals of the Migrant Workers Poetry Competition, Singapore. First held in 2014, the Migrant Worker Poetry Competition has quickly established itself as one of the key events in the cultural calendar in Singapore.