News / Bristol Refugee Festival
Bristol Refugee Festival returns for 2022
Boat rides, storytelling, exhibitions, music, feasts, crafts, ceilidh, performance and more are on the packed agenda for this year’s Bristol Refugee Festival.
The annual celebration will also see the return of the popular Our City Cup football tournament after a two-year hiatus, along with other live events.
Running from June 6 – 26, the citywide festival that celebrates the contributions of refugees and asylum seekers will kick off with a launch event at the Malcolm X Centre in St Paul’s on Monday evening, where there will be music, food, activities and a chance to learn more about the work of the Bristol Refugee and Asylum Seeker partnership.
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The theme for 2022 is ‘healing through community’ in a bid to encourage deeper community understanding and connection.
There will be an expansion of the citywide ‘Celebrating Sanctuary Local’ programme, with at least ten community-led events in locations such as Eastville Park, the Greenway Centre in Southmead, Page Park, St Werburgh’s Community Centre and St Paul’s Learning Centre.
Festival director Jules Olsen says: “The theme of ‘healing’ connects us with the national Refugee Week theme, but in Bristol, we wanted to emphasise the importance of community in that process.
“Last year, adapting our programme to covid restrictions, we learnt that smaller intimate spaces are ideal for nurturing connections and connecting with others on a personal level leads to more meaningful conversations and greater understanding. We are therefore really excited that so many communities have been ready and willing to be involved in creating spaces of welcome and celebration with refugees and asylum seekers.”
M Shed will host a spotlight loan from the British Museum for the exhibition Crossings: Community and Refuge and there will be a boat ride around the harbour with storytelling and music, as well as a family theatre show, crafts drop-in and a ceilidh dance. Bristol Refugee Arts Collective has joined forces with UWE Bristol art students to host an exhibition and workshops.
A ‘Walk with Me’ event in Eastville Park is among the events on the Bristol Refugee Festival schedule
Sherien, a volunteer festival ambassador, says: “The refugee festival shows a lot of support for refugees, makes them feel welcomed and like they belong.
“For my part, I wait for a celebration every year to see the variety of cultures and their reflections on each other. Knowing different customs, tasting different foods, sharing and displaying popular clothes.
“Participating in all these things creates a beautiful spirit among people, increases their knowledge of each other and reduces their sense of alienation. It makes us closer and increases mutual respect. People get to know new people and the celebration brings them together in joy and pleasure.”
Festival organisers welcome any donations to support their work and ensure it can continue. Find out more and donate via: www.localgiving.org/charity/bristol-refugee-festival/
All photos: Bristol Refugee Festival
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