Traces: Stories of Migration. A Qualitative Research Report on Visual Arts-Led Textile Practices in Collaboration with Migrant Communities in East London

Traces: Stories of Migration is a qualitative research report investigating the impact of participatory art on the well-being and identity of first and second-generation migrants. Led by visual artist and researcher Lucy Orta, the project was conducted in partnership with the University of the Arts London’s Portal Centre for Social Impact and Centre for Sustainable Fashion, and funded by the Arts Council of England, The Portal Trust, and Foundation for Future London.

Drawing on the multicultural fabric of east London, particularly the migration history associated with the East End Rag Trade, the project aimed to offer a positive and engaging artistic experience. It was divided into three phases: community engagement, responsive textile practice, and the exhibition of outcomes.

The community engagement phase collected and translated the memories and experiences of east Londoners with migrant backgrounds. The project employed visual-arts methods, including oral and mapping storytelling and textile-based practice in group settings. This approach enabled participants to share personal narratives and textile knowledge collectively, and to practice or learn new textile crafts. The resulting Story Cloths by participants and textile Portraits by Lucy Orta visually or conceptually depicted personal and/or family migration experiences and were presented in two public exhibitions.

The report explores how the participatory methods used in the project influenced the well-being and identity of the participants, fostered community connections, and provided a space for individuals to contextualize, reflect on, and express their migration history in an original format.