Spotlight.
Esraa Husain
Image by Marion Cromb
INTRODUCTION
Esraa Husain (all pronouns) is a freelance creative writer, community curator and facilitator based in Glasgow. They are the founder and director of @UBelongGlasgow.
INTERVIEW
How did you get into the creative industries? What initially inspired you?
Mostly as a creative writer. I’ve been writing and publishing fiction and nonfiction since 2013, both in Arabic and English. It was and still is an act of self-expression and an opportunity to share my truths. Some of the main inspirations include building connections among fellow creative peers, and holding space for each other. This has a great impact on my work as a community curator and facilitator.
What themes do you tend to interrogate in your work?
Lately I see myself focusing more on the intersections within identity politics, terminology and language. I read a paper that claims we can only identify in three main ways, the self-identification, the peer identification (community and social/cultural groups), and third is the state identification (how the government defines you). I find myself wondering about these influences that I see sometimes as limitations. And I question whether to embrace the multitude of identity possibilities or go beyond them.
What is your favourite project you've ever worked on and why?
The one I hold close to my heart is U Belong Glasgow, a multilingual community platform that features BPOC, LGBT+ and disabled creatives. It was launched in September 2020, then we started a partnership with Glasgow Zine Library to support with marketing and Zoom events. It is a profound example of the power of community solidarity, and how much we can achieve through compassion and understanding. I might be biased but I will say that this platform provided a great sense of belonging and acceptance, and supported loads of creativity.
What advice would you have for creatives of colour looking to get into the creative industries?
Developing the right kind of mindset is crucial. We are mostly here to support and amplify each other. We have to make this work possible via collaborations not competitions. Also, share your visions with confidence and pride to see who shares the same values, and who you can work with.
What are you currently working on?
I’m one of the community curators for the Curating Discomfort intervention at the Hunterian Museum. A project that addresses the legacies of empire and offers a critical approach to museum spaces and belongings. And I’m working on funding applications to deliver more U Belong events, and to celebrate the third anniversary of U Belong Glasgow in September this year. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you got any links please! Thank you.