Oxford-based Justice in Motion is celebrating over 10 years of ground-breaking performances with an exciting interactive exhibition of photographs, costumes, props, videos, soundscapes, activities and events.
The 10 Years in Motion interactive exhibition runs at the Old Fire Station from Feb 20-March 30 where you can take part in events, see snippets from shows, dance in a 10 hour ‘deca-thon’, enjoy workshops, attend panel discussions, join a pub quiz, relish a live Finnish Tango music concert, have your photographic portrait done, learn how to rap, and more.
Here’s the exciting line-up:
1)Vintage tango band Uusikuu from Finland, winner of the Best World Music Album at the German Rock & Pop Awards 2003, performs a live lunchtime concert in the OFS theatre on Saturday 24 February 1.30-3pm. World music elements, jazz influences, and singer Laura Ryhänen’s cheeky, ironic stories take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions.
2) Jason Farrell, Home Editor of Sky News, nominated three times as Specialist Journalist of the Year presents his book County Lines on Tuesday February 27, 8pm– 9.30pm, based on his research into powerful drug gangs using children as young as 12 as well as vulnerable men and women. His talk is followed by a Q&A and an opportunity to get a signed copy of the book.
3) Rapper Marcus ‘Matic-Mouth’ Smith and composer Quentin Lachapele, welcome you to drop-in sessions on Saturday 2 March 11am – 4pm (free but booking required) to learn how to write rap lyrics and create beats. Take the stage and grab the mic for ages 11-14, 15-18 and 18+.
4) Deca’thon Every hour over the day on Saturday 9 March from 10am-8pm a new dance workshop begins as part of the Dancin’ Oxford Spring Festival. Enjoy a multitude of styles from contemporary to breakdance, bachata to Bollywood, and kizomba to ballet. Come and dance for as many hours as you can manage!
5) Anti-Slavery Panel Discussion opens up about the problems we see today and how we can address it on Tuesday March 13 from 6pm-8.30pm (free but booking required). Join guests from leading charities Unseen, The Salvation Army, ASIOX, as well as rapper and former county lines gang leader Matt ‘Blessed’ Stevens, for an open discussion on anti-slavery.
6) Pub Quiz on poverty and human rights on Wednesday March 5, 6pm-8.30pm (tickets £2 per person on the door – booking required) Join a team for a lively, fun and enlightening evening with OPHI (Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative), OXFAM and CAP (Christians Against Poverty) plus a screening of the Justice in Motion show, POVERTY ON THE TABLE.
7) Loneliness – Video Screening and Talking Space on Wednesday 20 from 3pm-6pm (free), opening up about loneliness and mental wellbeing by connecting and sharing with charities The Archway Foundation, Beyond Loneliness and Tora Collective. Refreshments are available and films from the digital project MOVING TOGETHER, created during and immediately after lockdown, will be screened.
8) Ukrainian photographer, Vadym Gurewych, who took the portraits of Ukrainian refugee women for the RESISdANCE project, will be hosting portrait sittings in the gallery on Tuesday March 26 from 10am-4pm (free – booking required).
9) Family friendly Detective Trail on Saturday March 30 from 10am-4pm (free). Become a detective for the day using a list of clues to find objects and images around the exhibition. The best detectives win a treat, kindly provided by Tony’s Chocolonely, the anti-slavery chocolate brand.
Artistic Director and founder of Justice in Motion, Anja Meinhardt says: “I never realised how much impact Justice in Motion would have. It’s been an amazing journey with some fantastic people whose creativity, imagination and passion have made such a difference to so many lives. I am so proud to have those connections.”
Never shying away from hard subject matter Justice in Motion has tackled some of the world’s most troubling social justice issues fromhuman trafficking and domestic servitude to rape, modern slavery, immigration and expatriate experiences, migration, loneliness, county lines and child criminal exploitation.
It uses physical theatre, projection and art, parkour, bike tricks, live rap, music, dance, immersive theatre and story telling and film to get the message across, and their 10 year celebrations looks set to follow suit.
Justice in Motion 10th Anniversary Exhibition runs at the Old Fire Station from Feb 20-March 30 from Tuesdays to Saturdays 10am – 4pm. Free to view while other activities require booking here
