This project is funded by Cultural Bridge, which celebrates bilateral artistic partnerships between the UK and Germany through the collaboration between Arts Council England, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, British Council, Creative Scotland, Fonds Soziokultur, Goethe-Institut London and Wales Arts International / Arts Council of Wales. Cultural-bridge.info
About the project
We are delighted to have been awarded Tier 1 funding from Cultural Bridge, which will enable us to develop a dynamic space for collaboration, learning, and cultural exchange between partner organisations based in Manchester and Berlin. This project marks an exciting opportunity to co-create a new approach to artistic collaboration that transcends geographical, linguistic, and cultural boundaries.
At its heart, the project seeks to address pressing social issues and inequalities experienced by communities who have made Manchester and Berlin their home,particularly female and LGBTQ+ artists from migrant and refugee backgrounds. By facilitating artistic exchange and collaborative creation, we aim to amplify underrepresented voices, celebrate diverse experiences, and challenge harmful narratives that persist in mainstream discourse.
Through this partnership, artists and arts practitioners in both cities will work together to develop new work, exchange knowledge, and share unique skills and perspectives. The project will foster peer learning, enable capacity building, and encourage mutual understanding through a co-designed programme of workshops, residencies, and public events.
This initiative aligns closely with Cultural Bridge’s mission to increase cultural exchange in areas with fewer opportunities, by placing community-led organisations at the centre of international collaboration. It will provide a platform for individuals who are often marginalised to engage meaningfully with their counterparts in another country, forging connections that are rooted in solidarity, creativity, and shared values.
Crucially, the project allows us to explore the ways in which grassroots activism and community arts have shaped local identities in both Manchester and Berlin. We will draw on the transformative power of these movements to inspire new artistic expressions, build solidarity networks, and deepen our collective impact.
By sharing our experiences, methodologies, and challenges, we hope to establish long-term partnerships that extend beyond the life of the project: collaborations that continue to support social change through creative expression and celebrate the richness of our communities.
About our partners
Inner Unity Ensemble
Inner Unity Ensemble is a music project founded and curated by Ethnomusicologist, YALDA YAZDANI and MAHAN MIRARAB Musical director and Guitar player. Inner Unity strives to find a sound that utilises modal and microtonal concepts in Iranian Radif or Arabic and Turkish Maqams, accompanying them with diverse harmonic concepts in European classical music and jazz. They aim to incorporate rhythmic accents into their arrangements. The ensemble showcases a rich and diverse collection of sounds and melodies, celebrating the beauty of female voices diversity.
In February 2023, at the Duisburg Philharmonie, the group came together for their first performance, bringing different musical backgrounds to create a repertoire that incorporates our individual musical languages.
For more information, please visit their website.
Sahba Music
Sahba is an educational initiative dedicated to preserving and promoting Persian and Kurdish music, language, and cultural heritage.
Through workshops, masterclasses, and community events, the academy provides a platform for learning and artistic expression, fostering cross-cultural understanding. It collaborates with renowned musicians, scholars, and cultural institutions to offer high-quality education and engagement opportunities. Sahba Academy’s mission is to empower individuals of all backgrounds to connect with their roots while embracing the diversity of world traditions.
For more information, please visit their website.
About the project
We are delighted to have been awarded Tier 1 funding from Cultural Bridge, which will enable us to develop a dynamic space for collaboration, learning, and cultural exchange between partner organisations based in Manchester and Berlin. This project marks an exciting opportunity to co-create a new approach to artistic collaboration that transcends geographical, linguistic, and cultural boundaries.
At its heart, the project seeks to address pressing social issues and inequalities experienced by communities who have made Manchester and Berlin their home,particularly female and LGBTQ+ artists from migrant and refugee backgrounds. By facilitating artistic exchange and collaborative creation, we aim to amplify underrepresented voices, celebrate diverse experiences, and challenge harmful narratives that persist in mainstream discourse.
Through this partnership, artists and arts practitioners in both cities will work together to develop new work, exchange knowledge, and share unique skills and perspectives. The project will foster peer learning, enable capacity building, and encourage mutual understanding through a co-designed programme of workshops, residencies, and public events.
This initiative aligns closely with Cultural Bridge’s mission to increase cultural exchange in areas with fewer opportunities, by placing community-led organisations at the centre of international collaboration. It will provide a platform for individuals who are often marginalised to engage meaningfully with their counterparts in another country, forging connections that are rooted in solidarity, creativity, and shared values.
Crucially, the project allows us to explore the ways in which grassroots activism and community arts have shaped local identities in both Manchester and Berlin. We will draw on the transformative power of these movements to inspire new artistic expressions, build solidarity networks, and deepen our collective impact.
By sharing our experiences, methodologies, and challenges, we hope to establish long-term partnerships that extend beyond the life of the project: collaborations that continue to support social change through creative expression and celebrate the richness of our communities.
About our partners
Inner Unity Ensemble
Inner Unity Ensemble is a music project founded and curated by Ethnomusicologist, YALDA YAZDANI and MAHAN MIRARAB Musical director and Guitar player. Inner Unity strives to find a sound that utilises modal and microtonal concepts in Iranian Radif or Arabic and Turkish Maqams, accompanying them with diverse harmonic concepts in European classical music and jazz. They aim to incorporate rhythmic accents into their arrangements. The ensemble showcases a rich and diverse collection of sounds and melodies, celebrating the beauty of female voices diversity.
In February 2023, at the Duisburg Philharmonie, the group came together for their first performance, bringing different musical backgrounds to create a repertoire that incorporates our individual musical languages.
For more information, please visit their website.
Sahba Music
Sahba is an educational initiative dedicated to preserving and promoting Persian and Kurdish music, language, and cultural heritage.
Through workshops, masterclasses, and community events, the academy provides a platform for learning and artistic expression, fostering cross-cultural understanding. It collaborates with renowned musicians, scholars, and cultural institutions to offer high-quality education and engagement opportunities. Sahba Academy’s mission is to empower individuals of all backgrounds to connect with their roots while embracing the diversity of world traditions.
For more information, please visit their website.
On Saturday, 26th July, we held a meeting with the Inner Unity Ensemble, who joined us online. Two artists from Kurdish-Turkish and Ukrainian backgrounds took part in an exhibition at Islington Mill, while two writers from Iranian and Afghan backgrounds shared their work with the audience. The artists also joined a conversation with Inner Unity and Sahba, discussing their work and aspirations for the future.
Our team traveled to Berlin in October to take part in a series of meetings and events with Inner Unity Ensemble. Sahba Artistic Director joined online. During our visit, we shared conversations about music, creative practice, and our different approaches to making art across cultures and contexts. It was a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas, build connections, and explore possibilities for future collaboration. We also had the pleasure of attending a moving concert by Sediqa Madadqar, a talented musician from Afghanistan who fled the Taliban. Her performance was inspiring and added a powerful dimension to our visit, reminding us of the resilience and strength of artists working in exile.
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