Mapping Belonging
Aria Danaparamita, Mariana Duarte, Alexander Nevill, Ahmad Al Shehabi
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Date: Sun 21 June
Time: 13:00 - 14:30
Venue: The Montgomery
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ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
Mapping Belonging is a 90-minute participatory workshop that deepens engagement with the (un)borderings exhibition.
Through conversation, collage and collective filmmaking, participants explore emotional responses to borders, migration and belonging.
Inspired by the idea of bricolage, the session invites participants to work with writing, drawing, film stills and found images. They will combine materials in unexpected ways to create collages.
Participants can also choose to take part in reflective filmmaking that expands on the themes of the exhibition.
Emphasising intuitive and collaborative participation, the workshop culminates in a collective collage that reflects the perspectives and experiences of those present.
Event Format & Information
12:45 - Doors open
12:45-13:00 - Attendees arrive and find a seat
13:00-14:30 - The workshop happens
16:30 - Workshop ends, although attendees can leave at any time.
This is a guided workshop where people will make collages. The workshop is suitable for all levels and you don’t need to have prior experience.
Participation is expected, but you can take a break anytime you need to.
The workshop facilitators will record conversations that people have during the workshop.
If you do not want to be recorded, please let the facilitators know at the start of the workshop.
Workshop group size: approx. 20 participants
Seating: Unreserved seating is available at this event, but if you have specific requirements, please get in touch.
Audio: Noise will be at a conversational level. Free earplugs are available at the ticket desk.
Lighting: Neutral room light
Quiet space: The venue and festival team would work hard to find a quiet space for someone but there is no specific room.
Venue Accessibility
This workshop takes place in The Montgomery - Studio, which has lift access.
Written venue access information for The Montgomery is available here.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility for this event, please contact us at access@migrationmattersfestival.co.uk.
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Mita is a queer migrant lens-based artist, writer, and community organiser from Indonesia. A critical storyteller with international journalism and human rights expertise, their personal and community-based practice engages art as poetic resistance for collective liberation, often through the lens of land, place, and belonging. Bringing impactful storytelling into advocacy, they advise human rights organisations on policy and campaigns while engaged in grassroots organising.
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Mariana is a Brazilian filmmaker based in Scotland, whose work spans creative documentary and scripted formats with a focus on borders, ecology, and lived experience. A Berlinale Talents alumna, her films have been showcased at festivals such as Edinburgh, Aspen Shortsfest, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro. Her recent short, Headland, was commissioned by the Scottish Documentary Institute and won Best Mini-Doc at the Big Sky Doc Fest in 2025. Mariana is completing a PhD by practice in film at Edinburgh College of Art, focusing on migrant cinema.
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Alex is a director of photography and filmmaker based in Edinburgh, Scotland. He has been involved with several independent feature films and numerous short projects with a focus on creative non-fiction and artist's moving image work. His previous films include commissions from Creative England, Channel 4, Film London and have screened at international film festivals such as BFI London, Edinburgh, Palm Springs and IDFA. Alongside this, Alex is a Lecturer in Film and Moving Image at Edinburgh College of Art.
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Born a refugee in a Palestinian camp in Syria, Ahmad fled with his family before his teenage years, becoming part of a new generation of displaced people. This shaped him and fueled his passion for storytelling. In recent years, Ahmad has focused on film, and worked as a Director of Photography. Currently based in Gothenburg in Sweden. His works have been featured at local film festivals, reflecting his ability to reach people with his thoughtfully crafted and engaging stories.
EVENT INFO
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Free Entry
Please purchase a free ticket via the ‘Book Tickets’ link.
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Doors Open: 12:45
Running Time: 13:00 - 14:30 -
Event Format & Information
See the ‘Event Format & Information’ section for detailed information.
Venue Accessibility
This workshop takes place in The Montgomery - Studio, which has lift access.
Written venue access information for The Montgomery is available here.
If you have any questions regarding accessibility for this event, please contact us at access@migrationmattersfestival.co.uk.
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Age Guidance: All Ages
Content Warning: Mentions of war, displacement, border violence, and racism
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Image Still Credits
Image 1: Aria Danaparamita
Image 2: Mariana Duarte
Image 3: Alexander Nevill
Image 4: Ahmad Al Shehabi