Youth with Immigrant Backgrounds as Agents of Anti-racist Cultural Productions

Abstract

In this chapter, will discuss performative, art-based and participatory research approaches as a means of producing material and productions where the perspectives of young Finns with immigrant backgrounds are shared with larger audiences as part of research reporting. I begin by briefly discussing my earlier research and then concentrate on the project A Finn, a Foreigner or a Transnational Hip-hopper? Participatory Art-Based Research on the Identification Negotiations and Belongings of second Generation Finnish Immigrant Youth. This project was conducted together with different partners and teams of artists and art educators. The workshops were held in youth clubs, schools and as part of the participants’ leisure activities. During the project, we staged productions such as photo and video exhibitions and produced books and documentaries with different teams of art educators, artists, media workers and participants. The idea involved including the voices and perspectives of the participating young people as an important part of research reporting. Performative and participatory projects create spaces for participants to provide their insights into anti-racist academic, educational and popular discussions that are still strongly dominated by the majority population.