Art Voyage to launch its global platform, ongoing cultural programme, and nomadic biennial with Echoes of Migration — a multifaceted initiative comprising permanent public art installations and immersive Summit.
Rooted in a commitment to celebrating migrant narratives and amplifying vital voices within the arts, Echoes of Migration officially inaugurates Art Voyage’s innovative, itinerant cultural programme.
The project centres around the flagship Echoes of Migration Summit, taking place at London’s
prestigious Royal Society of Arts (RSA) this Friday 10th October 2025. Bringing together over 20 leading voices from the art world and beyond, the one-day event will explore the intersections of migration, identity, and contemporary creativity. Far more than a traditional conference, Echoes of Migration is a cultural catalyst. It brings together artists, curators, cultural leaders, philanthropists, and educators to co-create a platform for dialogue, imagination, and systemic change, centering migrant voices as powerful agents of creativity, care, and cultural connection.
Tackling urgent topics such as “The Role of Cultural Memory & Heritage” and “The Role of Institutions in Supporting Migrant Artists”, the summit offers an engaging and participatory experience through thought-provoking panels, Q&A sessions, and collective reflection. The entire programme will be documented and published as podcasts to ensure long-term public access and sectoral impact.
Supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and Lewisham Council, and taking place in the heart of the City of London, the Summit will feature renowned contributors including: Tamsin Ace (Director, East Bank); Paulo Arraiano (Visual artist, co-founder of Re_act Contemporary); Andy Ash (Artist & Researcher); Daniela Bianco-Duppen (Art Advisor); Jeffrey Boloten (Co-Founder & MD, ArtInsight; Director of Art Business and Enterprise Programmes, Sotheby’s Institute); Alice Burnhope (Textile Artist); Jonathan Burton (CEO, Cockpit Studios); Chimere Cisse (Founder, ArtK?rero; Founder, STELLA Alliance); Alina Davey (Head of Sotheby’s Collectors Group, EMEA); Mark Davy ( Founder of Future City); Rose Issa (Founder, Rose Issa Projects); Sylwia Krason (Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Contemporary Lynx Magazine); Sarah Le Quang Sang (Founder, SLQS Gallery); Lucy Littlewood (Senior Advisor, Venture Associates); Erika Loch (Poet & Writer); Rena Neville (Founder & Director, Corinth Consulting Ltd; Head of Art Division, FCS Compliance); Marta Orsola Sironi (Founder, MEGA Art Fair); Dr. Shwetal A Patel (Writer & Researcher); Anders Petterson (Founder, ArtTactic); Bengi Ünsal (Director, ICA); and Roxane Zand (ZandFineArts Consultancy).
This pioneering initiative is led by Art Voyage, a non-profit UK-based migrant-led cultural platform founded by Tima Jam, an Iranian-born British curator and producer. Building on 20 years of experience through Blue Rhino Art Consultancy, Art Voyage aims to amplify underrepresented voices through a wide range of activities including exhibitions, summits, public art, residencies, and community programmes. The platform is grounded in values of equity, care, cultural exchange, and inclusive authorship, with a strong commitment to lasting cultural and social change.
Art Voyage Biennial will officially launch in 2026, with its first edition taking place in London in 2027. Unlike conventional biennials, this initiative will relocate to a different global city every two years, encouraging new forms of cultural exchange and international collaboration. Future editions are already confirmed in Dubai, Dammam, Berlin, and Hong Kong, following an Olympic-style model to foster global exposure and creative transformation. artvoyagebiennial.org.uk
Anyone can also support the Echoes of Migration project with a one-off donation, anonymous if preferred. Your support will help build the artist materials fund, create a digital storytelling archive,
ensure summit accessibility and legacy, and develop workshops for local communities. Together celebrate migrant voices & create lasting cultural change: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/the-echoes-of-migration
Echoes of Migration Summit Agenda 10th October 2025
09:00 Welcome reception: registration, tea/coffee and networking
09:30 Keynote by Summit Chair Lucy Littlewood [Arts Leader & Chair of the Board of
Trustees of Turner’s House]
09:45 PANEL 1: Celebrating Cultural Diversity in Contemporary Art Moderator: Daniela Bianco-Duppen (Artscapy) Speakers: Dr. Shwetal A Patel (Kochi-Muziris Biennale), Sarah Le Quang Sang (SLQS Gallery), Alina Davey (Sotheby’s Auction House), Alice Burnhope (Artist – Cockpit Studios) Exploring how migrant artists use contemporary art to preserve cultural traditions while embracing new influences, this discussion examines the role of technology, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement in maintaining cultural diversity in the arts.
10:30 PANEL 2: The Role of Cultural Memory & Heritage Moderator: Erika Loch (ProjecTile) Speakers: Rose Issa (Rose Issa Projects), Daniela Bianco-Duppen (Artscapy), Paulo Arraiano (Re_act Contemporary), Marta Orsola Sironi (MEGA Art Fair) This discussion delves into how migrant artists reframe cultural memory through storytelling, archives, and collective memory, highlighting how public art fosters identity and a sense of belonging, particularly in areas like Lewisham.
11:15 Unveiling: mobile art installation by Alice Burnhope (award-winning textile artist)
11:20 Short break – tea/coffee and networking
11:45 PANEL 3: Decentralising the Arts: Beyond Central London Moderator: Dr. Shwetal A. Patel (Kochi-Muziris Biennale) Speakers: Tamsin Ace (East Bank), Mark Davy (Futurecity), Sylwia Krason (Contemporary Lynx Magazine) Addressing the need for cultural investment in areas outside central London, this panel focuses on how public art can engage communities and transform underrepresented spaces.
12:30 Lunch break RSA House Café access for all ticket holders Catered lunch included as part of VIP tickets 13:45 “Songs Across Borders” – Performance Art by Migrant Artists
14:00 PANEL 4: The Role of Cultural Institutions in Supporting Migrant Artists Moderator: Roxane Zand (ZandFineArts) Speakers: Bengi Ünsal (ICA), Andy Ash (Artist & Researcher), Jonathan Burton (Cockpit Studios) Exploring the power of digital platforms in fostering cultural belonging, this panel looks at how technology supports artistic exchange and connects displaced communities.
14:45 Short break – tea/coffee and networking
15:00 PANEL 5: Beyond Patronage: Evolving Next-Gen Art Philanthropy Moderator: Jeffrey Boloten (ArtInsight, Sotheby’s Institute of Art) Speakers: Anders Petterson (ArtTactic), Rena Neville (Corinth Consulting Ltd / FCS Compliance) and Chimere Cisse (STELLA Alliance) As public funding contracts and markets fluctuate, a new generation of patrons is redefining how culture is financed, through pooled funds, community ownership, impact investing, and tech-enabled giving. This panel explores what “next-gen” philanthropy truly means in practice: shifting power to artists and migrant communities, valuing cultural impact beyond ticket sales, and building institutions that can weather uncertainty. It also explores how trust, transparency, and financial integrity are vital to this transformation. From due diligence and governance to compliance and safeguarding against financial crime, speakers will examine how ethical giving fosters confidence and ensures that philanthropy becomes a transformative force for migrant-led cultural change, not just a transaction.
15:50 Closing speech by Lucy Littlewood
15:55 “Melody in Motion” – Performance Art by Migrant Artists
16:00 VIP Reception – cultural highlights, drinks & networking (VIP access only)
19:00 Ends
Echoes of Migration, Royal Society of Arts 10th October 2025 TICKETS
