The 1,700 Syrian refugees relocated to Scotland may be just a fraction of the 300,000 asylum cases that Germany has received, or the 100,000 that Sweden has taken in since the war in Syria broke out six years ago. But in order to play its part, the Scots are attempting a new model for integration.
In 2015, the Scottish government, in collaboration with UNHCR, coordinated the relocation of Syrian refugees — flying families directly from camps in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, and housing them in all but one of the 32 regions across Scotland.
Based on the capabilities and resources of each local council, families have been placed in both populated, urban centers where there are mosques and halal shops, as well as on small, remote islands along the west coast where even locals are moving away to find work on the mainland.
“The New Scots” is an ongoing body of work that seeks to examine the integration of these families into my home country and to explore in what way their geographical placement will inevitably affect their assimilation.
Artist Bios
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Emily Macinnes
Emily Macinnes (b. 1989) is a Scottish photojournalist and filmmaker. Currently based in Glasgow, she is a graduate of the Danish School of Media and Journalism.
In a time of rapid globalization, where cultures and races are meeting, mixing and morphing on a greater scale than ever before, Emily has focused her work around issues of migration and identity. She seeks to explore the individual and personal experiences that get lost in greater media narratives.
Organizations
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United Photo Industries (UPI)
United Photo Industries (UPI) is a New York based nonprofit organization that works to promote a wider understanding of, and increased access to, the art of photography.
Since its founding in 2011, UPI has rapidly solidified its position in the public art landscape by continuing to showcase thought-provoking, challenging, and exceptional photography from across the globe. In its first seven years, UPI has presented the work of more than 2,500 visual artists in gallery exhibitions and public art installations worldwide.
The New Scots
Featuring: Emily Macinnes
Curated by: James Estrin David Gonzalez
Locations
View Location Details Download a detailed map of this location Brooklyn Bridge Park – Emily Warren Roebling Plaza1 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
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