Opinion: Migrants Help Shape Britain’s Art, Music and History

In a new opinion article, former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams says that migrants have played a central role in British art, music, architecture and culture — even though political rhetoric often ignores this fact. He argues that many people paint migrants as outsiders who threaten British values, but the real picture is more complex and inspiring.

Williams says too many discussions about migrants focus on fear and danger — like when headlines panic over crimes involving foreigners — rather than seeing migrants as full human beings with deep cultural contributions.

The Real Story of Migrants in Culture

According to Williams:

• Migrants are often seen in a one-dimensional way — as people trying to benefit from Britain without respect for its culture.
• This view overlooks the fact that migrant communities bring rich cultural practices, traditions and creativity with them.

He says that initiatives to listen to migrant voices and showcase art made by migrants help tell a better story — one full of humanity and imagination.

Examples of Migrant Influence

Williams and others point out real examples that show how deeply migration has shaped culture:

Art and Exhibitions

Artists like Issam Kourbaj, who was born in Syria and lives in Cambridge, create powerful artworks that reflect the migrant experience — blending history, memory and movement.

Photography and Memory

Photographer Dragana Jurišić, who fled conflict as a teenager, used her experiences and personal objects to create work that connects displacement, memory and identity.

These works remind audiences that migrants bring stories and ideas that transform how we see the world — not just where they came from.

Music, Architecture and Shared History

Migration’s influence goes beyond personal art:

• Many of the styles and sounds in Western music come from traditions rooted in migration, including African-American music that evolved from African and American experiences.
• Many British architectural forms have roots in designs and ideas brought through historical movement between regions, especially during medieval times.

Williams argues that cultural exchange through migration has created dynamic traditions — not static “original” cultures untouched by outsiders.

Why This Matters Today

Williams says it’s important to move beyond fear-based stereotypes about migrants and to see migration as a shared human story:

• Migrants have always moved between places for many reasons — safety, work, opportunity or conflict — and have gone on to enrich societies they join.
• Too often, public debate focuses on migrants as problems instead of cultural contributors.

He suggests that paying attention to how migrants express themselves — through art, music, food, language and memory — helps us understand who we all are.

Migration as British History

Migration is not something new or foreign to Britain. Throughout history, people have moved here and changed the culture in lasting ways — from religion and architecture to music and community life. Celebrations like Notting Hill Carnival, which grew from Caribbean traditions brought by migrants, show how migration becomes part of national culture.

Other events and memorials — such as Windrush Day, which honours Caribbean migrants who helped rebuild post-war Britain — also show how migration has shaped British identity over decades.

A More Imaginative Way of Seeing People

Williams argues that listening to migrant voices themselves — not only politicians, journalists or commentators — can expand our understanding of community and belonging. When people share their art, memories and stories, they help build empathy and show how cultures fit together and influence each other.

He writes that this approach doesn’t just enrich British culture, but also changes how each of us thinks about our own history and imagination.

Bottom Line

The Guardian opinion piece says that migrants are a core part of Britain’s cultural world — not outsiders who dilute it, but voices that have shaped art, music, architecture and ideas for centuries. Instead of reducing migrants to stereotypes, the article invites people to recognize their contributions and listen to their stories, helping everyone see British culture as a shared and evolving human story.