Meet our 2026 festival guest programmer Nate Coltane

Bringing in fresh perspectives to our festival is always important to Migration Matters.

Nate Coltrane amplifies voices from the Windrush generation

This year, we are proud to reveal that our guest programmer is Nate Coltrane.
Nate is a Manchester/Midlands-based artist, curator and founder of Our Yard, a platform exploring the positive impact of immigration on UK culture through the lens of Caribbean sound system heritage.
His work centres on oral histories, community storytelling and immersive experiences, amplifying voices from the Windrush generation and beyond.

His recent exhibition Foundations at New Art Exchange brings together archive, sound and visual installation to examine sound system culture as a form of social infrastructure. Through interviews, audio and moving image, the work traces the cultural, social and political impact of Caribbean communities in Britain.
His projects have been supported by Arts Council England and presented in collaboration with partners including Mixcloud, Rinse FM and Greensleeves Records.

Alongside his artistic practice, Coltrane plays an active role at Mimm Studios, a Midlands creative space that explores heritage, history, and music through Caribbean culture while supporting creatives from the Caribbean diaspora.
Through this work, he has spent over 15 years developing community-led initiatives, mentoring emerging talent and creating platforms for underrepresented voices.

Working across exhibition, broadcast and live programming, his practice is rooted in collaboration, access and cultural preservation.
As a guest programmer for Migration Matters Festival, he continues to create spaces that connect music, migration and collective memory.