RESPONDING TO MIGRATION ISSUES THROUGH FOOD HOSPITALITY IN THE FORM OF SOCIALLY ENGAGED ARTS PRACTICES

Abstract

International migration is global issue that is growing in terms of scope, complexity and scale. Government and international responses have proliferated, reflecting its importance and relevance. However, anti-immigration sentiments and policies have also risen in western countries in the recent years. Xenophobia, discrimination, integration, and access to crucial rights and opportunities are some of the key issues that migrants face. This paper explores the role that ground-up initiatives play in response to these issues. In particular, it focuses on projects that revolve around food and hospitality, and elaborates on the reasons for doing so. The five projects revolving around food and hospitality are: the People’s Kitchen Collective in Oakland; Storycourse in Manhatten; League of Kitchen in LA, California and New York; Migrateful in the UK; and The Welcome Dinner Project in Australia. By employing the framework of socially engaged art, my findings reveal that these projects share the aspects of commensality, conversation, participation, performance and documentation, even though they differ in other areas such as size, aims, duration and structure. Through these, they provide spaces and opportunities for migrants to empower themselves, change perceptions of migrants, and create emancipated communities.