New Heathrow-inspired Terminal 1 celebrates migration

Glastonbury has introduced a new venue called Terminal 1, designed to celebrate migration and encourage diversity.

The new space, planned for 2024, is located next to the iconic Carhenge space in William’s Green, taking inspiration from the old Heathrow Airport terminal. True to its name, it has been designed to celebrate the diversity that comes from migration.

Designed as a visual guide to the journey many would-be settlers face in the UK, the visual and digital design showcases the pros and cons of the migration process. To enter the space, visitors must pass through a recreated UK Border Office and correctly answer one of the UKGOV citizenship test questions.

From there, they are presented on different levels of the three-story space and given a visual recreation of the journey faced by those seeking to emigrate to the UK – all with the aim of promoting compassion and support for the different cultures of the country.

“It’s a celebration of traveling communities,” said show director Miguel Umba. NME about the inspiration behind the space. “Glastonbury has a history of welcoming marginalized communities, and by reusing the design of the old Terminal 1, we intend to make it a space where we celebrate diversity and emphasize the idea that no one is legal.”

He continued: “It was organized by international artists – artists from Rwanda, Colombia, Latin America and California. Notting Hill Carnival is also involved, it’s run by CAIWU, a cleaners’ union, and we also have musicians from a variety of backgrounds.

A section of the site also refers to the conservatives’ controversial idea of ​​sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. After being interviewed at the UK Border Office, visitors are taken to a section where a host explains the country’s culture, as well as the various traditions practiced there.

“The political situation in the UK has been quite difficult in recent years, migration has increased and so has understanding of it. So this was a perfect opportunity to talk about something that is crucial to us,” Umba explained, adding that it is no coincidence that the site has arrived in time for the upcoming general election.

“I hope people will leave thinking that just because we’re at Glastonbury having fun doesn’t mean it’s the same for everyone else in the world. For some people, their lives depend on someone ticking a box on a question in an exam or a government decision.

Umba added: “Yes, migration is a very difficult topic to address, but it also requires us to show solidarity and compassion. Many of us are migrants or will have to migrate at some point, so we all need to show compassion and attack policies that do not promote the reception of people.”

Terminal 1 also features contributions from visual artists such as Love Watts, La Linterna and Yoshi Sodeoka.

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