Responses to Ecological Crises through Creative and Civic Participation

At this event you will hear about the Manchester Histories ‘This is Us’ project, which celebrates overlooked stories, reflects on complex legacies, and creates spaces where every voice can be heard; from Grass Routes Movement, a Greater Manchester wide non-profit community interest company which uses movement in urban and rural spaces to empower marginalised communities; and Voices of the Sands, a song-cycle that explores migration and the idea of sanctuary through the archival history, folklore, and ecology of a sandbank just off the Kent coast.

Following short presentations, the audience will be warmly invited to participate in a Q&A discussion with the four speakers, contributing questions of their own which provoke conversation on the practice of creativity/creative practice, civic participation, justice and equity.

The event will be chaired by Anke Bernau, Lead for ‘Creative and Civic Futures’, Creative Manchester.

Speakers:

Yussuf M’Rabty is a project manager, artist, and facilitator with over 15 years’ experience working across music, poetry, theatre, and socially engaged arts. His practice is rooted in creativity as a tool for connection, empowerment, and social change, with a particular focus on equity, representation, and amplifying underrepresented voices. Yussuf’s artistic work often blends sound design, oral histories, and archival material to create immersive installations and soundscapes. Driven by a passion for reimagining public narratives and challenging dominant histories, Yussuf is dedicated to creating spaces where communities feel seen, heard, and celebrated. Yussuf is manager for the Manchester Histories ’This Is Us’ project.

Sajida Ismail is co-founder of Grass Routes Movement (GRM), a community interest company. She formerly practiced in non-profit law centres as an immigration solicitor and as a law lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University where she piloted thematic ‘law in action’ walks. These experiences informed the creation of GRM. Through GRM, Sajida’s collaborations with diverse GM wide organisations to co-design and facilitate walking and movement projects in Greater Manchester’s urban and rural spaces has enabled her work to begin to respond to the myriad ways that experiences of oppression and inequality limit people’s access to, and enjoyment of ‘free’ movement. Grass Routes Movement also provides consultancy and training on equality, diversity, and inclusion with a focus on addressing barriers to participation in movement projects.

Rebecca Hurst is a writer, opera-maker, and researcher with a particular interest in fairy tales, writing about place and nature, and creative health. She is the author of a poetry collection, The Iron Bridge, and a poetry pamphlet, The Fox’s Wedding. Her music theatre work and choral writing, in collaboration with composers, has been widely performed in the UK and Europe. As well as being a Lecturer in Creative Writing at The University of Manchester, she lead workshops in schools, museums, hospitals, and libraries. Voices of the Sands – a song cycle for three solo upper voices and harp, was written with composer Michael Betteridge following archival research on the Goodwin Sands, which lie just off the Kent coast. Commissioned in 2022 by the Deal Festival, Voices of the Sands is now being revived and reimagined ahead of a 2027 tour of England and Ireland.

Michael Betteridge is a British-Canadian composer known for bold, story-driven work in opera, orchestral, and choral music. Recent commissions include The Last Bit of the Moon (OperaUpClose) and The Vanishing Forest (English Touring Opera). His work has been performed by the likes of BBC Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra, with broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 and 4. A champion of co-creation and participation, his work has twice been nominated in the Impact category at the Royal Philharmonic Society Awards. Founder of LGBTQ+ low voice open access choir The Sunday Boys, he became an Associate of the Royal Northern College of Music in 2023.

Food and refreshments will be provided for all guests.

Accessibility

If you have particular access or dietary needs, please let us know in advance by providing details when registering for your ticket or by emailing [email protected]

About Creative Manchester

Creative Manchester is an interdisciplinary research platform based at The University of Manchester. The platform champions research in creativity and creative practice, bringing together research communities with external stakeholders to explore new research areas and address strategic opportunities. Please visit the website for more information: Creative Manchester.

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