Coventry Welcomes – part of Refugee Week 2020
Date/Time
Date(s) - 15/06/2020 - 21/06/2020
All Day
Location
Online
Categories
Coventry Welcomes Festival is a week-long festival celebrated within the framework of the national Refugee Week, which takes place every year across the world in the week around World Refugee Day on the 20 June. This year it will be from 15-21 June.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020 it will be held online through a range of digital performances and interactive activities.
Coventry Events
For a list of events organised by Coventry Welcomes, see https://coventrywelcomes.co.uk/events/
National Events
15-21 June Moving Worlds
The theme this year is “Imagine” and will feature a special of selection of features and short films, with post-screening discussion resources, available to watch at home for Refugee Week 2020.
Nationally there will be a series of online ‘post-screening’ discussions during the week. Visit movingworlds.info to see the programme and access the films.
16 June Parliamentary Event
Sponsor Refugees Foundation of Citizens UK in partnership with Helen Hayes MP have organised a Refugee Week 2020 Parliamentary event on Tuesday 16 June from 5:30pm – 7:30pm. It will be held online. Register at https://bit.ly/2TwsunG
16 June Refugees and the Holocaust: Have we learnt our lessons?
Ruth Barnett MBE is an author, academic, educator and psychotherapist who came to the UK on the Kindertransport in 1939. Over the course of the hour, Ruth and Moses will explore the situation that refugees face today, the need to stand in solidarity with the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities as well as other marginalised groups, and how to bring about the equality of persons that the Holocaust commands. Register at https://bit.ly/2M4Z8J7
16 June Art Refuge & Aida Silvestri – online workshop
Art Refuge uses art and art therapy to support the mental health and well-being of displaced people, both in the UK and internationally. In addition to ongoing programmes with refugees in the UK and France, the charity offers arts-based skills-sharing workshops, crisis support and consultation to frontline staff, currently in relation to Covid-19.
This free online workshop will be led by Bobby Lloyd and Miriam Usiskin from Art Refuge, and artist Aida Silvestri. Register at https://bit.ly/36oGHrR
17 June My name is not refugee
Kate Milner (Anglia Ruskin University graduate) talks about the inspiration and background to her picture book ‘My Name is Not Refugee’. Register at https://bit.ly/2WYoj6l
21 June No Direction Home – Standup Comedy
Live online comedy via Zoom with the unique No Direction Home comedy collective, hosted by Tom Parry. Special guest headliner to be announced. Tickets at https://bit.ly/2ZsmYWO
More about Coventry Welcomes
Its vision is to highlight Coventry’s reputation for being a city of Sanctuary, Peace and Reconciliation representing a city of unity, compassion and love. The website is https://coventrywelcomes.co.uk/
Coventry Welcomes aims to:
- Develop partnerships with an inclusive and diverse vision.
- Raise awareness of the journeys travelled by refugees and migrants.
- Promote resilience and contribution of refugees to our city.
- Recognise the importance of celebrating diversity in our city.
Background
World Refugee Day
Established by Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 2000 and occurring each year on June 20th, World Refugee Day is an international observance intended to call attention to the plight of refugees and individuals displaced from their homes due to war, violence, and persecution. The first World Refugee Day was observed in 2001, coinciding with the 50-year anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees. Each year on June 20th there are numerous events around the globe designed to raise awareness of the tremendous struggles refugees face and urge action toward solutions.
Refugee Week
In the UK, Refugee Week is a nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities.
Refugee Week started in 1998 as a direct reaction to hostility in the media and society in general towards refugees and asylum seekers. An established part of the UK’s cultural calendar, Refugee Week is now one of the leading national initiatives working to counter this negative climate, defending the importance of sanctuary and the benefits it can bring to both refugees and host communities.
The aims of Refugee Week are:
- To encourage a diverse range of events to be held throughout the UK, which facilitate positive encounters between refugees and the general public in order to encourage greater understanding and overcome hostility
- To showcase the talent and expertise that refugees bring with them to the UK
- To explore new and creative ways of addressing the relevant issues and reach beyond the refugee sector
- To provide information which educates and raises awareness of the reality of refugee experiences
More information: https://refugeeweek.org.uk/