A cohort of BBA students was selected to take part in the Art of Belonging event: a focused activity that took place on December 13th at the new Nottingham Central Library. This consisted in a full day writing workshop led by two professional singers and musicians to produce an original song for the city. Learning to write a collaborative song, putting beats, music and vocals together and developing a performance of the song are key components of our music curriculum at BBA. The opportunity to work creatively with professional musicians, who have experienced with what it is like to be an asylum seeker and refugee living in Nottingham, has been a wonderful opportunity to make ideas and voices heard in the production of a new song for the city! Other than learning about the techniques linked to producing lyrics ready for a performance, the theme of ‘belonging’ was central to discussions.
This mix of ideas was a winning combination for BBA, where a sense of ‘belonging’ is central to all that we do, and where ‘School of Sanctuary’ is something that we carry with pride and aim to develop at every opportunity.
The day’s activities started with workshops and guidance on how to produce the original song for the city. Students also got a taste of what the new library looks like and the many events that it coordinates. It later progressed into the launch of the Art of Belonging Nottingham City Pledge, where students listened to speeches by authorities before the final accomplishment of the day was brought to life: students agreeing to perform the songs they had created. A wonderful and meaningful event to be part of!
