Refugee Week, co-ordinated by Counterpoints Arts will be taking place across the UK and internationally from 20-26 June.
The theme this year is Healing. Through creativity and conversations, Refugee Week 2022 will be a celebration of community, mutual care, and the human ability to start again.
The lead illustration for Refugee Week 2022 is by Nima Javan, a painter specialising in traditional Persian art and contemporary abstract art. Nima’s current work is inspired by ‘Persian miniatures’, using characters found in traditional paintings as well as his own creations. Originally from Quchan in North East Iran, Nima sought refuge in the UK in 2019. The illustration is commissioned for Refugee Week by Counterpoints Arts.
If you’re holding your own event for Refugee Week, you’re welcome to use Nima’s image in your Refugee Week publicity, crediting ‘image by Nima Javan for Refugee Week’ where possible. You can crop the image if needed but we ask that you don’t modify it – thanks!
Refugee Week is a festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Founded in 1998 and held every year around World Refugee Day on the 20 June, Refugee Week is also a growing global movement, with many events planned for 2022 in countries including Australia, Greece and Germany (both in collaboration with Counterpoints Arts), Malta, Taiwan and Hong Kong.
Through a programme of arts, cultural, sports and educational events alongside media and creative campaigns, Refugee Week enables people from different backgrounds to connect beyond labels, as well as encouraging understanding of why people are displaced, and the challenges they face when seeking safety. Refugee Week is a platform for people who have sought safety to share their experiences, perspectives and creative work on their own terms.
Refugee Week’s vision is for refugees and asylum seekers to be able to live safely within inclusive and resilient communities, where they can continue to make a valuable contribution.
Refugee Week is an umbrella festival, and anyone can get involved by holding or joining an event or activity. Refugee Week events happen in all kinds of different spaces and range from arts festivals, exhibitions, film screenings and museum tours to football tournaments, public talks and activities in schools.
A selection from our Refugee Week programme:
20th June at BFI, 2 -3.35pm, Le Havre
https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/le-havre/
Set in the port city of Le Havre, this charming comedy-drama tells the story of an ageing bohemian, his wife and the wider community as they confront everyday hardships of their own but also that of the refugee crisis that surrounds them.
Guest list/tickets.
24th June at SBC, 7.45 to 9.15pm, Passage: New writing on migration and displacement
https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/passage-new-writing-on-displacement-and-migration/
The event features a line-up of artists and writers at the forefront of driving social change through their storytelling.Chaired by Christy Lefteri with Helen Benedict (Footnote), Ania bas + one TBC.
Guest list/tickets.
24th June at V&A, from 6.30pm, our Friday Late collaboration with BLM Fest and V&A
Info published this week, the programme includes a screening and panel on the LGBTQI+, Black and People of Colour histories, London Ballroom and vouguing performance and workshop, Black queer history poetry workshop and performance in the John Madejsko garden/pool.
25th June, 1 to 5.30pm, Celebrating Sanctuary: Lewisham Refugee Week Festival at the Horniman Museum
https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/celebrating-sanctuary-lewisham-refugee-week-festival/
A day of fun and thought-provoking art, performance, food, music, workshops and discussion celebrating Lewisham’s richly diverse communities. With a host of local community organisations. Full programme announced shortly.
25th June at SBC, 7.45 to 9.30pm, Awate presents: About Us
https://counterpoints.org.uk/event/awate-presents-about-us/
The Eritrean-born, Camden-raised wordsmith, poet, rapper, producer and activist curates this event as part of Refugee Week 2022. The line-up includes resident DJ for the night TrYb, as well as live performances from IsattaSheriff, Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, Susanne Xin and Kofi Stone.
Guest list/tickets.
26th June at SBC, 7.45 to 9.45pm, No Direction Home
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/gigs/no-direction-home?eventId=911030
With host Ola Labib, headlined by Fatiha El-Ghorri
Guest list/tickets.
21st to 26th June, at varous times, Alter by Distanced Assemblage
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/art-exhibitions/alter
Our co-commision with Southbank centre, inspired by the rich history of Southbank Centre and notions of refuge and displacement. The installation of seven movable sculptures filling the public spaces with sound sand colour. The artists are runing sculpture, movement and creative writing workshops through out the week. The installation is on the spirit Level at the start of the week, moving to Clore Ballroom from 24th to 26th June.
Full details about Refugee Week events, plus resources and inspirations including the Simple Acts programme can be found on the Refugee Week website.
Refugee Week is a partnership project coordinated and managed by Counterpoints Arts.
