Who Do We Think We Are? First artists announced as b-side Festival to return with theme exploring ancestry and migration

The first artists for the much loved contemporary arts festival announced as it returns to Portland from 5th – 8th September 2024

b-side Festival, Dorset’s internationally-recognised celebration of arts and community, is returning this September for four days of incredible artworks, performances, and experiences created by artists of national and international acclaim. 

The first three installations have been announced including outdoor artworks inspired by Persian myths of migration, tiny artworks with gigantic meaning in the form of SIM cards, and the transformation of £5 notes into portraits of festival-goers.

This year’s theme Who Do We Think We Are? explores the many stories that make up the lives of the residents and visitors of Portland. The magical place is no stranger to the topics of migration and identity, as the island has been home to the floating asylum containment site, the Bibby Stockholm, for almost a year. The barge has been docked on the isle since August 2023 and has been at the centre of many conversations around the topic of migration, home, and belonging since its controversial arrival. 

This year’s festival is a poignant and inspirational celebration of how we might tell our stories of movement and migration, from around the corner to across the globe. The first three artworks explore this question through an eclectic mix of mediums and origins.

Rocca Holly-Nambi, Director of b-side, said: “This year’s festival will pay homage to the incredible cultural and creative diversity the UK has to offer. We are so lucky to have such an eclectic array of talent in attendance for b-side every year, and this year’s line-up is particularly diverse in both medium and messaging. Identity and community run strong through Portland’s veins, and we’re proud to bring this to light with our theme for 2024.”

Download full press release below.