Unique exhibition of Moss Side stories

MMU’s Link Gallery is hosting a unique multimedia exhibition exploring the life stories of students from Manchester Academy, where pupils come from across the world and 63 different languages are spoken.

Moss Side Stories captures the tales of students from countries including Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia and Angola through poetry, photography, paintings, video monologues and short films. The highly accomplished work has been described as ‘memorable’, ‘moving’ and ‘inspirational’.

Pupils at the school, which serves Moss Side, Hulme and Rusholme, hope their stories will challenge negative stereotypes about their area as a dangerous place to live and work and show how people from around the world have found a home in Moss Side, some finding safety for the first time in their lives.

Incredible journeys

Dr Linnie Blake, who created and is leading the project, said: “The stories are fascinating and reveal what an exciting community Moss Side has. They tell of the incredible journeys many students have taken to get to Moss Side and show their incredible energy, intelligence and creativity.”

Moss Side Stories is one of MMU’s new Public Engagement Fellowships, projects designed to build permanent links with the local community which were voted for by the public in December. The aim of this ongoing project is to enable Manchester Academy students - many of whom are from ethnic minority groups and areas where economic deprivation can make life difficult - to explore their own creativity through professionally facilitated workshops and get a taste of university life.

Community collaboration

Over the past seven months Manchester Academy pupils have benefited from the expertise of MMU staff and students in creative writing, art and video production, whilst MMU students have been able to gain vital work experience as they become more a part of their local community. Manchester Academy pupils have also been working hard on their own musical production, Moss High Musical, which MMU students have photographed and filmed.

It is hoped that Moss Side Stories will mark the start of a longstanding collaboration between the two institutions and the wider communities the University serves.

A documentary illustrating the evolution of the project will be screened at the exhibition and an anthology of stories and poems is currently being printed.

The Moss Side Stories exhibition runs until 17th July, Monday to Friday 10am-4pm, at The Link Gallery, MMU Grosvenor Building, All Saints, Manchester.