Facilitated by Distanced Assemblage (artists Paria Goodarzi and Francisco Llinás), and developed in partnership with The Welcoming, Alternative Tracks is a friendly, welcoming space to meet neighbouring communities, members of the arts industry, political representatives, and new local people in different locations in Edinburgh. The project started in Haymarket and Stockbridge in May 2022, moving to North Edinburgh over the summer.
Over fifty people, adult and children, have taken part in the project, presenting their work at three pop-up events: an exhibition at Edinburgh Printmakers' Courtyard (19 - 26 June, presented as part of Refugee Festival Scotland); an outdoor installation at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre (29 July, as closing event for a summer school hosted by North Edinburgh Arts); and a final exhibition at Edinburgh College (Granton) (8-9 October, as part of Edinburgh Multicultural Festival).
The textile printed artworks created by the participants explore Edinburgh's urban space and the groups' stories of migration. These pieces were made using different printmaking techniques, including screen printing, block printing, cyanotype and linocut. Assembled as temporary installations for each pop-up event, they embody different perspectives and conversations, while holding space for seldom heard voices within the public realm.
These works have been made by:
Arezu, Maleqa, Palwasha, Tahira, Wahida, Hamim, Parisa, Farima, Golshan, Fariss, Hussein Mohamed, Hasam, Saleh, Sultan, Ibrahim, Ahmed, Sadat, Najeeb, Kocher, Esmaail, Rahat, Feryal, Manal, Dhuha, Sumar, Fatima, Fedaa, Nadiia, Anna,Tahira, Naima, Laila, Jamila, Zala, Muhammad, Safia and 27 talented young artists.
Distanced Assemblage is a collaborative, artist-led initiative based in Glasgow with the goal to make a positive impact in the wellbeing and visibility of people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds by providing opportunities to engage in art making.
Developed as part of Edinburgh Printmakers' programme In from the Margins, in partnership with The Welcoming. Supported by North Edinburgh Arts.
Alternative Tracks has been awarded funding from City of Edinburgh Council's Flexible Fund (Diversity & Inclusion). Made possible with the support of the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
