York Festival 2025: Untold Stories of Migration and Belonging in York

York attracts millions of history enthusiasts, but what does the city's history mean for its residents? As part of a research project about hidden histories of York’s diverse communities, this drop-in workshop invites people to rethink their relationship to the city, how layers of identity were shaped by waves of migration, and consider how we can find shared spaces of belonging.
You’ll be asked to identify areas of the city that are important to you on a map and to write down the meaning and emotions of these spaces. The ultimate aim is to create a visual representation of how all of us in York are linked and the things we have in common."

Those attending will have a chance to enter a draw for a walking tour of the city by Uncomfortable York following the workshop. The tour provides the perfect introduction to the rich history of our beautiful and iconic city, while going beyond traditional narratives and highlighting stories of women, LGBTQIA+ individuals and people of colour.

Whether you have lived in the city for a few months or many generations, why not drop by our workshop and share what York means to you?

Schedule: 

• Workshop: 10:30AM - 12:30 PM
• [Optional] Uncomfortable York Walking Tour: 3:00PM - 4:30PM - Meet outside Bennett's Café and Bistro, High Petergate (YO1 7EH)

Booking information:

No booking is required for the workshop, just drop in !

However, to help with planning ift would be useful to register you interest to attend, as we will prioritise workshop attendees to draw tickets for the Uncomfortable York tour in the afternoon.

About:

This event has been organised by Mariana Pinto Leitao Pereira of the University of York in partnership with Our City Hub and Uncomfortable York.

• Find out more about Uncomfortable York Walking Tours.

• Find out more about Our City Hub.

Accessibility Information:

The library building can be accessed by large automatic doors, there are no steps up. Once inside the building it is spacious and easy to get around, there is a lift to the first floor. Accessibility Guide Link: https://www.accessable.co.uk/city-of-york-council/access-guides/york-explore-library

The walking tour features several stops around the centre of York over the course of 1.5 hours. The tour contains no stairs or curbs, but please note sometimes uneven pavement in the city centre and crowding on busy days.