This research group explores the role of feminist thinking and artistic production in constructing cultural narratives about Central Eastern Europe and British Central Eastern European diaspora.
Creating spaces of mutual support, curiosity and learning that oppose the UK’s hostile environment, the research group responds to a cultural blind spot around prejudice and xenophobia in the UK towards the “Eastern European” immigrant, sharpened by Russia’s war in Ukraine and Brexit.
This is reflected in the poor representation of the Central Eastern European diaspora in the UK’s cultural sphere. According to the ‘In-Between Spaces‘ report, produced collaboratively by the University of Birmingham and Centrala Space (2021), CEE diaspora art workers face stereotypes and misunderstanding associated with their heritage, and experience significant discrimination within the cultural sector.
Engaging discursive formations and collective organising as strategies, the research group builds on Feminist Duration Reading Group’s tried and tested methodology of reading under-known and under-appreciated feminist texts from outside the Anglo-American canon out-loud, together. All are welcome to join the research group as contributors and participants; a combination of online and in person activities will support a network of practitioners based in and beyond the UK and Central Eastern Europe.
Our work departs from the following research questions:
- How can contemporary and historical Central Eastern European feminisms reorient contemporary British cultural discourses about CEE, including the figure of the CEE migrant in Britain?
- What is the role of English language translation as a tool for the dissemination of contemporary and historical feminist thought between Central Eastern Europe and Britain, and feminist solidarity? How does this reproduce problematic power dynamics between ‘East’ and ‘West’?
- How are artists changing narratives about the Central Eastern European diaspora in Britain and embracing intersectional CEE identities?
The Art Practices and British Central Eastern European Diaspora Research Group is led by Jessie Krish and Adomas Narkevičius (Cell Project Space), and Lina Dz̆uverović, Sabrina Fuller and Helena Reckitt (Feminist Duration Reading Group). All are welcome to contribute and participate.
