Make Migration Stories Visible
Xenia. Verein zur Förderung der Vielfalt
Austria
Bludenz is a small, rural town in Vorarlberg (Austria), situated, so to speak, in the heart of Europe. Despite having only 15,000 residents, the town boasts great cultural diversity, with people from nearly 100 nations now living in Bludenz. Migration has shaped both the town’s history and its character. Nevertheless, the topic is often overlooked, and many immigrants do not have the right to vote. Publications on the town’s history also largely ignore the phenomenon of migration. We want to raise awareness and encourage people to participate. The result will be an online exhibition.
Statistics show that Bludenz is a city of diversity: people from 97 different countries currently live in the district capitalin southern Vorarlberg. The history of migration has shaped its development over the past centuries. While the city and region were influenced by emigration until the 19th century, industrialization and the construction of the railroad transformed the landscape. The project explores the traces of immigration. Using a citizen science approach, the project will empower young people to become researchers in their own living environment. They will engage deeply with the city where they live. The young people will first gather background knowledge for the project. This will also serve as an important contribution to a migration archive for the city of Bludenz—a key objective of the Xenia Association’s work. Working in small groups, the young people will then conduct video-assisted interviews with immigrants, focusing primarily on documenting everyday life. The online exhibition is intended to serve as the foundation for a future virtual museum. At the same time, people from diverse backgrounds should be invited to participate.