MIF21 Memories

 

Being a part of MIF21 meant a lot to me. I feel like the festival was the big push that I needed to be able to go out into the city confidently again. Like a lot of people my mental health took a severe dip during Lockdown and saying yes to being a part of Sea Change was the first step to me taking control after a year and a half of utter cluelessness. 

Sea Change made me enjoy being in town again, it woke up my inner explorer, who had spent Lockdown in hibernation. The fantastic weather has also helped a great deal. But more than anything it gave me the real life connection I’ve been craving throughout Lockdown.

I also feel like it woke up my femininity in a way. I know for a fact that I’ve never been as aware (or grateful) for my body before in my life. Yes, I like my body, at times I really love it (it gets me everywhere I need to go) but I’ve never used my body to tell someone else’s story before and it’s given me a deeper appreciation for dancers, artists and, yes, my body. As a woman, I’m always aware of how I move around in the world, constantly having to pay attention as I do so, and Sea Change gave me the opportunity to stop and celebrate the joy and the power that I possess as a person who hopes to create art that means as much to the world I give it to as it does to me.

From the thought provoking short film All Of This Unreal Time, to the Looking Forward To Tomorrow event, as well as the live concerts at Festival Square, every aspect of the things I’ve experienced at MIF21 have educated me as well as inspired me to dive into researching my own heritage, thought patterns and style.

MIF, as a whole, specializes in bringing the best in rule-breaking art, music and culture from around the world (as well as our back garden) to Manchester, making it available to not only the residents of Manchester but citizens from other places. This year’s events marked the beginning of a new era for Mancs as we emerge out of Lockdown, confronting the grief, loss, kindness, anger and surreal reality that we’ve all had to endure for so long.

Never having attended a festival of any kind I’m overjoyed that MIF21 was my first. I got to spend time with incredible people and listen to interesting discussions and fantastic live music as well (all of which are some of the main reasons why I moved to Manchester in the first place). I’m also so glad that a lot of the content that I wasn’t able to attend in person are available to watch online.

From start to finish the festival has given me the opportunity to do things that I never imagined doing and I can’t wait to see what the festival brings to my city in two years’ time.