Refugee Week 2020: ‘Imagine’ Theme

Refugee Week 2020: Imagining a Different World

This week – 15th-20th June – is Refugee Week; a UK nationwide festival which celebrates the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees.

The festival was founded in 1998 and aims to unite communities through helping them to connect and learn from one another.

This year is set to be as informative, engaging and empowering as ever, with the theme for 2020 being ‘Imagine’

Unlike other years, this Refugee Week will be held virtually as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, this has only served to inspire new, creative ways to get communities involved, with everything from online writing workshops to seminars and comedy sketches still able to take place digitally.

One of the best aspects of Refugee Week is that anybody is able to organise their own event, the requirements are simply that the event is held during the week of the festival and helps to celebrate refugee contributions to the UK or encourages a better understanding of refugee experiences.

This year is set to be as informative, engaging and empowering as ever, with the theme for 2020 being ‘Imagine’. This theme aims to reinforce the endless possibilities for real change and inspires us to imagine a different world; one free of prejudice and oppression.

This year, Refugee Week comes in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement currently erupting across the globe and therefore could not be more timely. In a year that has, so far, proved one of the most challenging in modern times, it should be easier than ever to imagine and recognise how quickly things can change.

Refugee Week will be held virtually this year in light of Covid-19.
[Image: Twitter]

Which Refugee Week events can I take part in?

As mentioned, this year Refugee Week is being held virtually, with all events accessible online.

The festival is open to all people of all ages; there are activities specifically tailored to children, for example, such as the ‘How do you welcome a new neighbour?’ activity which encourages children to respond to the brief: ‘Imagine someone is moving to your neighbourhood and they don’t speak the same language as you. What would you do to make them feel welcome?’. Whether in photo or video format, all creations are to then be displayed on Reset UK’s website and across social media.

The overall aim of these events is to highlight the role of the arts in inspiring social change, inclusion and cultural integration of refugees and migrants

Similarly, there are events suited to 11-16 year olds and adults, including podcasts, seminars, lectures, comedy sketches, flash fiction writing competitions, short films, photography competitions, live music performances and so much more.

The overall aim of these events is to highlight the role of the arts in inspiring social change, inclusion and cultural integration of refugees and migrants. Through various mediums and art forms, Refugee Week is sure to educate, entertain and unite communities.

Participating in these online events could not be easier – when visiting the Refugee Week website you will note an ‘Events’ tab; here you can scroll through the various events taking place and can choose which you would like to attend.

IAS recognises the importance of festivals such as Refugee Week and would encourage all to take a look at the incredible events being held. 

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