Periodic Reporting for period 2 - PlaGE (Playing at the Gateways of Europe: theatrical languages and performatives practices in the Migrants' Reception Centres of the Mediterranean Area)
Reporting period: 2022-10-01 to 2023-09-30
PlaGE project studied the theatrical and artistical practices performed by asylum seekers in Reception centres and informal camps of the Mediterranean migratory route. In these places, neither inside nor outside European borders, the use of theatrical and performative language emerges sometimes spontaneously, sometimes in an organised way. Songs, dances and improvisations are common even on the rescue boats of the Mediterranean Sea.
The overall objective of the project was to explore the performative practices in transit migration contexts, by applying an interdisciplinary methodology at the convergence between Performance Studies and Social Sciences, in order to study their aesthetical, social and political impact.
The research focused on two crucial transit-countries of the Mediterranean migratory route: Italy (which hosts most of the Mediterranean Reception Centres) and Morocco (an important traffic junction of South-Saharan migration). PlaGE adopted a strategical Euro-African perspective, by training, researching and developing an intense networking activity between the two continents, which enhanced the impact of the research at system level.
PlaGE mapped the theatrical activities performed by asylum seekers during Transit Migration, considering their characteristics (organisation, duration, funding, objectives, performative languages, approaches and techniques). It examined four case studies, analysing the aesthetical and political framework of the practices, the social impact on the territory and on the condition of the asylum seekers (improving confidence, language, communication, mental health, gender role, employability, intercultural understanding).
The project adopted an experimental methodology combining participatory methods and art-lead techniques of Performance Studies and Social Sciences, involving researchers, artists, activists and students in developing and sharing knowledge through performances, workshops and public meetings. The practice-led approach (PAR Performance as Research) was carried out in collaboration with two theatre groups working in migratory contexts.
The interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach provided a comprehensive understanding of the performative practices in transit migration contexts, considering the role played by migrants and their relationship with local associations, professional artists, and political activists, in particular the strategies of self-representation and authorship, the dynamics of appropriation and agency.
The project achieved the main objective of creating a coherent analysis of how theatrical and performative practices arise as a complex and vital political resistance to react to spatial segregation, racial discrimination and labour exploitation.
The overall objective of the project was to explore the performative practices in transit migration contexts, by applying an interdisciplinary methodology at the convergence between Performance Studies and Social Sciences, in order to study their aesthetical, social and political impact.
The research focused on two crucial transit-countries of the Mediterranean migratory route: Italy (which hosts most of the Mediterranean Reception Centres) and Morocco (an important traffic junction of South-Saharan migration). PlaGE adopted a strategical Euro-African perspective, by training, researching and developing an intense networking activity between the two continents, which enhanced the impact of the research at system level.
PlaGE mapped the theatrical activities performed by asylum seekers during Transit Migration, considering their characteristics (organisation, duration, funding, objectives, performative languages, approaches and techniques). It examined four case studies, analysing the aesthetical and political framework of the practices, the social impact on the territory and on the condition of the asylum seekers (improving confidence, language, communication, mental health, gender role, employability, intercultural understanding).
The project adopted an experimental methodology combining participatory methods and art-lead techniques of Performance Studies and Social Sciences, involving researchers, artists, activists and students in developing and sharing knowledge through performances, workshops and public meetings. The practice-led approach (PAR Performance as Research) was carried out in collaboration with two theatre groups working in migratory contexts.
The interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach provided a comprehensive understanding of the performative practices in transit migration contexts, considering the role played by migrants and their relationship with local associations, professional artists, and political activists, in particular the strategies of self-representation and authorship, the dynamics of appropriation and agency.
The project achieved the main objective of creating a coherent analysis of how theatrical and performative practices arise as a complex and vital political resistance to react to spatial segregation, racial discrimination and labour exploitation.
During the first year of research, the project faced the challenging situation of the Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns in Italy and Morocco which made it difficult to travel, organize and/or participate in person in meetings, workshops and conferences. During this time the researcher completed an advanced training in Migration Studies, acquiring a specific expertise in Transit Migration, which allowed her to structure an original interdisciplinary methodology at the convergence between Arts and Social Sciences. The development of a solid and detailed interdisciplinary approach was extremely useful in the analysis of performative practices in migratory contexts, focused on the aesthetical framework and social impact.
By adopting some small deviations in order to achieve the expected results, the researcher implemented a map of the artistic and theatrical activities carried out in migratory transit in Italy and Morocco. Subsequently, she implemented the fieldwork in Morocco and Italy and completed the analysis of the characteristics of the practices. The interpretation of the data was followed by a dynamic dissemination and communication activity.
The last research period was mainly dedicated to the implementation and application of the methodology Performance as Research (PAR) to explore the artistic and social dynamics in Transit Migration. After a training-through-research in Art and Practice-led Methods, the researcher elaborated the approach PAR with the collaboration of the artists involved. She organised an extensive programme of workshops, meetings and performances, connecting researchers, students, artistes and migrants in order to advance new operational knowledge, disseminate it to peers and stakeholders, and communicate to the general public. The crucial phase of the application of the PAR methodology was represented by the organization of the final event of the project, including a conference and a series of round tables and performances, which brought to Venice an international network of experts and artist-activists operating in Europe, America and Africa.
By adopting some small deviations in order to achieve the expected results, the researcher implemented a map of the artistic and theatrical activities carried out in migratory transit in Italy and Morocco. Subsequently, she implemented the fieldwork in Morocco and Italy and completed the analysis of the characteristics of the practices. The interpretation of the data was followed by a dynamic dissemination and communication activity.
The last research period was mainly dedicated to the implementation and application of the methodology Performance as Research (PAR) to explore the artistic and social dynamics in Transit Migration. After a training-through-research in Art and Practice-led Methods, the researcher elaborated the approach PAR with the collaboration of the artists involved. She organised an extensive programme of workshops, meetings and performances, connecting researchers, students, artistes and migrants in order to advance new operational knowledge, disseminate it to peers and stakeholders, and communicate to the general public. The crucial phase of the application of the PAR methodology was represented by the organization of the final event of the project, including a conference and a series of round tables and performances, which brought to Venice an international network of experts and artist-activists operating in Europe, America and Africa.
The research produced a substantial corpus to understand the performative practices created by migrants in transit and to explore the aesthetical and social impact of these practices on the conditions of newcomers and on local territories.
The project developed and applied an innovative interdisciplinary methodology at the intersection between Performance Studies, Social Sciences and PAR (Performance as Research) which contributed to the development of the growing field Performance/Migration Studies and produced concrete results through an intense practice of dissemination and communication in Europe, America and Africa.
The extensive program of meetings, workshops and communications disseminated interdisciplinary methodologies, paradigms and practices in the context of transit migration, which could be developed and applied locally in order to improve asylum seekers' confidence, language, communication, mental health, employability and intercultural understanding.
The project built a wide transnational network of scholars, artists, activists ans stekeholders working in the field of Theatre and Migration and opened further partnerships between intersectoral institutions in Europe and Africa. PlaGE made a significant contribution to the non-academic sector. In particular, the application of a Euro-African approach proposing new perspectives in Performance and Migration Studies is relevant within the frame of the Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development supported by the EU policies.
The project developed and applied an innovative interdisciplinary methodology at the intersection between Performance Studies, Social Sciences and PAR (Performance as Research) which contributed to the development of the growing field Performance/Migration Studies and produced concrete results through an intense practice of dissemination and communication in Europe, America and Africa.
The extensive program of meetings, workshops and communications disseminated interdisciplinary methodologies, paradigms and practices in the context of transit migration, which could be developed and applied locally in order to improve asylum seekers' confidence, language, communication, mental health, employability and intercultural understanding.
The project built a wide transnational network of scholars, artists, activists ans stekeholders working in the field of Theatre and Migration and opened further partnerships between intersectoral institutions in Europe and Africa. PlaGE made a significant contribution to the non-academic sector. In particular, the application of a Euro-African approach proposing new perspectives in Performance and Migration Studies is relevant within the frame of the Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development supported by the EU policies.