Life in the Time of the Pandemic

Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre is recognised for its pioneering and responsive approach to addressing key issues and needs of Muslim women in Scotland. ‘Life in the Time of the Pandemic’ is an ambitious creative project which aims to shift the discourse of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Scotland to ensure the experiences of Muslim and BME women are neither ignored nor dismissed.

Three distinct phases shaped this work: Narrate, Create, and Elevate. First, over one hundred Muslim, BME women came together in early 2021 to connect, reflect and create a series of culturally responsive online sessions to explore their experiences of lockdown. Topics included engaging with Black Lives Matter movement and extended family relationships, as well as resilience and coercive control. Next, the women worked with artists Raman Mundair, Annie George and Katherine MacKinnon, to translate their experiences into audio, visual and written art pieces.

Finally, these compelling stories were showcased in an interactive presentation and shared on the websites of arts and mental health organisations.  A small group of asylum-experienced women also led a workshop at June’s Refugee Festival Scotland, where they shared the creative pieces along with new written work.

Life in the Time is an urgent call to action to address the lack of support for marginalised and socially excluded women. Explore the women’s stories on the exhibition website: https://life-in-the-time-exhibition.com/