Refugee Week (19-25 June) is the UK’s largest festival celebrating the contribution of refugees. Hundreds of arts, cultural and educational events will be held nationwide in renowned venues, public squares, libraries, schools and places of worship.
Venues include the British Museum, Southbank Centre, British Film Institute, Victoria & Albert Museum, Wales Millennium Centre, West Yorkshire Playhouse and Brighton Dome. Many artists performing for Refugee Week have first hand experience of forced displacement.
Refugee Week Chair and Refugee Council Chief Executive Maurice Wren said: “This year, Refugee Week with its theme of ‘our shared future’ provides a timely reminder that we have far more in common with each other than that which divides us. We must never allow the language of demonisation and hate to corrode Britain’s proud tradition of welcoming and protecting refugees. Instead, by making the UK an inclusive place of safety for those fleeing persecution, we must demonstrate that empathy and compassion are hallmarks of a strong society.”
Refugee Week is also supporting the Great Get Together, a national celebration inspired by Jo Cox, 16-18 June. Joint Refugee Week-Great Get Together events include a Syrian Refugee Community Iftar (breaking of the Ramadan daily fast).
“The cause of refugees was close to Jo’s heart and the fact that we will be marking the first anniversary of her death just as Refugee Week 2017 begins brings added poignancy to events. know what a great job Refugee Week has done over the last two decades in highlighting the contribution of refugees to Britain.” – Brendan Cox.
London Refugee Week Events.
British Film Institute 15-23 June: Four Refugee Week screening experiences including provocative international documentaries, virtual reality and (tbc) Vanessa Redgrave introducing Oscar-winning period drama Julie, which will be.
Southbank Centre 18-25 June…
18 June Our Shared Future, a music night curated by M.I.A. as part of the Meltdown Festival, featuring Liverpool-based Iranian rapper Farhood, ‘first lady of Arabic hip hop’, Palestinian-British rapper Shadia Mansour and Everyday People, a group of young emerging musicians who are refugees from across the world.
20-21 June: Borderline satire about Calais, featuring refugee actors who have lived in the Calais camp.
25 June Different Pasts, Shared Future at British Museum- a day of film, workshops, art installations and music, including from ‘voice of the young Somali generation’ Aar Maanta.
Refugee Week at Friends House 19-25 June: The Quaker Friends House invites people of all faiths and none to a week of events including discussion by authors who are, and/ or write about refugees, an exhibition on the history of sanctuary in the UK and a Sanctuary Sunday event featuring former-detainee activists Freed Voices and a RefuTEA with Refugee Council.
17–24 June Home Festival at Theatre Delicatessen: Seven days of theatre, dance, talks, workshops and family activities for Refugee Week.
Full national event listings for Refugee Week here.
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