As with most western European populations over the past couple of decades, the nature and the make-up of the people living on the island has changed.

As the island has attracted more international business to our shores, the backgrounds, nationalities, languages and ethnic make-up of our population has altered too.

Now, a new exhibition, produced and curated by a Manx-based global charity, has gone on display at the Manx Museum which aims to celebrate this cultural diversity and truly display the integrated nature of the island’s global, multi-cultural population.

’Island Voices’ is a series of portraits taken by Bulgarian photographer Milen Stankov, and they show the variety of people who have made the island their home, along with their own stories and testimonials.

The subjects come from several different continents, from Europe, Asia, America and Africa. Some were drawn here for business, some to study, and some who stayed here mainly because they simply liked the island.

Milen himself moved to the island six years ago, and the photographer, who specialises in documentary portraiture said that, once he was contacted by the One World Centre, he was excited about the project.

’The exhibition has been organised by the One World Centre,’ said Milen.

’We did the photographs of people who have decided to move to the Isle of Man, much like myself. I moved to the Isle of Man in 2011.

’The One World Centre got in touch with the subjects. They chose the people and produced the interviews and after that I approached them to get the photos done.

’And every photograph has a story behind it. I tried to do the photograph in terms of the stories of their lives,’ he continued.

’I think they are interesting characters from all over the world. It has been a real pleasure to meet up and hear their stories.’

Milen, who has his own photography business on the island, thinks that the exhibition shows off some of the best qualities of the Manx people, as the subjects all said how welcome they have been made to feel since moving to the island.

’I think the Isle of Man is a unique place, with such a wide variety of people living here, having been brought from all over the world.

’It is a very welcoming place and it is amazing how people do live here in harmony, although they are from different cultures and different countries. This is very good for the island, not just for the people who came here, but for everyone who lives here.’

The exhibition was opened by Phil Craine, chairman of the One World Centre, who said that he wanted to give people on the island a chance to get to know the people who have made the island their home, and thinks that it will appeal to the sense of welcome and togetherness that he feels is an important part of the island’s nature.

’We live on an island where there is an increasingly diverse ethnic mix,’ said Phil.

’We see that at the school gate and we hear foreign tongues up and down Strand Street.

We know from the last census that 7,000 people live on the island who were born outside the British isles.

’At a time when nationalism and narrowness is on the rise throughout the western world, this exhibition is an attempt to help us understand our new neighbours and to try to get to know the ’other’ a little better.

’I think the tribal instinct runs deep within us, but so does the instinct of human solidarity, of compassion, of welcome and of hospitality,’ he said.

’We are trying to encourage us to talk to our neighbours, to counter this narrowness, this attitude of putting ourselves first. That is what this display is all about.

’It is a chance to give these new people - I won’t use the word ’comeovers’ - a chance to tell their stories and a chance to get to know them a bit better, like how did they come to the Isle of Man. Such as how the Isle of Man has welcomed them - or not, as the case might may be. And to really give them a traditional Manx welcome.’

’Island Voices’ is on display at the Manx Museum until the end of March.

The exhibition was produced with help from Culture Vannin and the Isle of Man Arts Council.

by Mike Wade

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