For more information about Refugee Week nationally, please visit the Refugee Week website.

Download the full calendar of events in PDF format.

General Events and Exhibitions

Launch of Refugee Week Wales 2009

Saturday 13th June, 10am - Late, National Waterfront Museum, Swansea

The launch of Refugee Week Wales is taking place at the Swansea Waterfront Museum in what promises to be one of the best launch events of Refugee Week Wales. With musical performances from around the world, photographic exhibitions, information and awareness raising stalls, poetry, drama and plenty of things for the kids you are sure to find it an exciting day out.

Performing at the launch will be Raja Mohammedi (an asylum seeker from Iran who performed with the Iranian National Orchestra), Andy Jones (Welsh folk singer), Bobby Singh (Bangra and Rap artist), 2 RUDE (a tribute to SKA band), Cougar band (African Caribbean band) and the Kurdistan Folk Group.

Life After Iraq Exhibition

June 13th - 21st June, National Waterfront Museum Swansea
28th June - 31st August, Butetown History & Arts Centre Cardiff

Much attention has been given to the conflict in Iraq, but much less to the resulting humanitarian crisis facing the Iraqi people. Since 2003 when war broke out, at least 4.7 million Iraqis have been forced to flee their homes. Originally commissioned by the Scottish Refugee Council, Life After Iraq is an exhibition of work by award winning photojournalist Angela Catlin and writer Billy Briggs, who travelled to Syria to document some of the millions of ordinary Iraqis living there as refugees. The exhibition now gives an intimate insight into the lives of Iraqi refugees who have come to Wales seeking safety shown alongside those living in Syria.

Chris Ryder Memorial Exhibition

June 13th - 21st June, Wrexham Library, Wrexham

Chris Ryder was a volunteer photojournalist for Refugee Week Wales for several years. Earlier this year he sadly passed away and Refugee Week Wales is holding a memorial exhibition of some of his work. He gave his time happily and willingly to help refugees and to help overcome some of the negative media around this issue.

Swansea City of Sanctuary Events

'Swansea City of Sanctuary' Marquee

Sat 13 Jun 2009, 11.00-4.30, National Waterfront Museum, Swansea

The marquee will be part of the launch of Refugee Week Wales. It will have a display explaining 'City of Sanctuary', with volunteers available all day to talk to visitors about it and how they can help, as well as independent stands, displays and mini-activities by supporting groups and organizations - and the Exhibition and the 'Building a Sanctuary' drop-in workshop (see below).

'Building a Sanctuary' drop-in workshops

Sat 13 Jun, 12.00-4.00 - National Waterfront Museum, Swansea

What does 'sanctuary' mean to you? - and to those fleeing from violence or persecution? How can we work together to build sanctuary in Swansea? Two preparatory workshops are being arranged, to be held in local schools, when ideas will be given form in building an actual 'sanctuary' from found materials, and illustrated with drawings or written statements or wishes. Then the 'drop-in' workshops on the day itself will involve small, mixed groups of local people, asylum seekers and refugees, who will be encouraged to draw or write their ideas onto paper or card, to be attached to the 'sanctuary'. These workshops will be run by a local community artist with assistance from refugee facilitators.

'Swansea City of Sanctuary' - how to make a difference

Sat 13 Jun, 2.00-3.30 - Dockside Meeting Room, National Waterfront Museum, Swansea

It will be exactly a year since the idea of making Swansea into a 'City of Sanctuary' was floated at a Workshop at Refugee Week 2008. Find out more about the idea and how it has spread, and share ideas on how you and your organization can help to make a difference.

Forum Theatre

Sat 13 June, 5.00-6.30 - Swansea Museum Free

Presentation of a Forum Theatre piece on the experience of asylum seekers and refugees in Swansea, to be generated through workshops run by Fforwm Theatr Cymru throughout the previous week.

Asylum Dialogues

Sat 13 June, 6.30-8.00 - Swansea Museum £6 (free for unwaged)
A production by iceandfire Theatre Company (actors for human rights)

What happens when you meet someone who has fled their country to seek refuge in the UK? What happens when that person becomes your friend and needs your help? Drawn from real life conversations, Asylum Dialogues explores the everyday encounters between asylum seekers and British people, encouraging us to challenge our own preconceptions.

Find out more at iceandfire.co.uk

Sherman Theatre Events

Sherri D. Sutton

Monday 15th June, 8pm, Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Sherri’s comedy derives from her personal struggles: family, religion, sexuality and money. Sherri will perform her sharply witty one-woman show, Don’t Make Fun Of Jesus, in aid of the charity Theatre versus Oppression.

All proceeds form this show will go towards the Kyangwali Refugee settlement project in Uganda which aids in the education and therapy provision for young people orphaned and traumatised by the war in DRC.

Stand-Up Comedy Workshop

Tuesday, 16th June, 10am-5pm, Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Learn how to be truthfully funny! Participants will engage in exercises designed to create and structure a comedy set. Course leader Sherri D. Sutton uses stories from her life to create comic material and it is this process of shaping personal stories to evoke laughter that she will explore in her workshop.

Emergency Theatre (Sherman Cymru)

Monday 15th June, 8pm, Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Come and be part of an evening of presentation and debate about the role of theatre practitioners working in situations of crisis, with Hua Dan (China), Ice and Fire (UK) and Theatre versus Oppression.

Shappi Khorsandi
(Off The Kerb Productions)

Thursday 18th June, 8pm, Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

In the early 80’s Shappi became a refugee, long before it became fashionable. Following regular sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival, Shappi comes to Sherman with her brilliantly intelligent and funny one-woman show, Asylum Speaker, which draws on her personal experiences of leaving Tehran and moving to London.

“Britain’s best young female comic by any yardstick”
The Guardian

“…quick witted…a persuasive mix of the personal and the political…”
The Times

Benjamin Zephaniah (Hay Productions)

Friday 19th June, 7.30pm, Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Benjamin Zephaniah was born and raised in Birmingham, but his poetry is strongly influenced by the music and poetry of Jamaica and what he calls ‘street politics’. In the early days his work was popular within the African-Caribbean and Asian communities in Handsworth but he wanted to speak to a more mainstream audience. Decades later, Benjamin’s accessible and eclectic repertoire, accompanied by numerous television appearances, have made him one of the UK’s best loved performance poets.

(Sponsored by Academi)

Little Leap Forward (Horse and Bamboo Theatre - Director Alison Duddle)

Saturday 20th June, 2pm & 6pm, Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Little Leap Forward tells the story of Yue’s Childhood in China during the Cultural Revolution. It is a story about family, friendships and creative expression but above all about the need for freedom. The story will be told using masks, puppetry, shadows and animation with original music composed by Loz Kaye. The music will also feature the distinctive flute playing of Guo Yue himself.

Creating a Storm (Sherman Cymru)

Saturday 20th June, 8pm, Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

A multi-cultural celebration bringing Refugee Week 2009 to a close. Dance, drama and music performances created with Earthfall, Living Pictures and the Cross-Cultural Community Women’s Choir

Community Activity Events

St Fagans Day Trip

Saturday 20th June, Cardiff Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support

Cardiff Asylum Seeker and Refugee Support group have organised a trip to St Fagans Museum in Cardiff which will bring together people of all ages and races in one day of fun, food and culture. The trip will be an excellent opportunity for everyone to not only learn more about Welsh History and heritage but to engage with people from all over the world sharing similarities and stories.

Newport Schools Awareness Tours

15th - 21st June The British Red Cross

The British Red Cross will be working with schools and youth clubs to raise awareness of refugee issues and other cultures. They will give children a chance to encounter these cultures in a positive atmoshphere. Specifically they will be delivering two PSE lessons to children in Secondary schools, 2 fruits of the world sessions in primary schools, 2 music/art sessions in primary schools, 2 cooking food from around the world classes to youth groups and other activities in schools.

‘Building Sanctuary in Swansea’ photographic and short story exhibition.

Sat 13 Jun - Fri 26 Jun 2009, National Waterfront Museum, Swansea

These photographs and stories will focus on asylum seekers and refugees and their links to local organizations, including community groups, schools, faith groups, etc. They will be portrayed volunteering in a range of ways or simply taking part in these organizations’ activities. At the same time the exhibition will illustrate and celebrate the variety of groups and organizations which welcome asylum seekers and refugees and present information on ways in which organizations which support ‘City of Sanctuary’ can translate that support into making a real difference.

• The exhibition will include winning entries from an open competition as well as photographic and design work by members of a Swansea City of Sanctuary Working Group.
• The ‘Building Sanctuary in Swansea’ exhibition will be in the marquee for its opening day and subsequently in one of the museum galleries for the following fortnight.

Earthfall Dance Ltd

Dance workshops with Earthfall performed at Sherman Theatre during Refugee Week

Working with individual and shared ways of moving, these workshops will enable participants to create a dance project that expresses their stories and culture. Taster workshops were run during May and participants will work together during Refugee Week Wales to create a dance performance.

Zimbabwe Newport Volunteering Association

Saturday 20th June, 12pm - 9pm, Celebrating Diversity event

Come along to this exciting celebration of diversity in Wales, celebrating Zimbabwean music, food, crafts and culture.

Join in with the free Zimbabwean cooking and music lessons and listen to other music from around the world.

Other Events

Hafan Books - launch event

Wednesday 24th June, 7pm, Swansea Museum

The launch event of the New Hafan Books series welcomes new publications by Gemma June Howell, Alhaji Kamara, Aimé Kongolo, and Steve Short

Hafan Books - Cardiff launch event

Tuesday 30th June, 7pm, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff

The launch event of the New Hafan Books series welcomes new publications by Gemma June Howell, Alhaji Kamara, Aimé Kongolo, and Steve Short

Theatre Forum Cymru - ‘Who are these people?’

Saturday 13th June, 5pm, Swansea Waterfront museum

Forum Theatre depicts actual problems, issues that negatively affect the community to which ideally the actors and the audience belong. At the end of the play the problem presented is not resolved and the audience is invited to attempt to do so. The play is performed a second time and on this occasion the audience can shout “Stop!” come up onto the stage and change places with the character with the problem and show what they would do in such a situation.

Brecon Jazz Festival 2009

6th August - 9th August

South African pianist Abdullah Ibrahim and Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango will play Brecon jazz this summer. There will be 25 concerts between 6th and 9th August, which will also feature free family events, fireworks and a jazz carnival parade. The festival will be held in three central venues Theatre Brycheiniog, an 800-seater concert venue and a 500-seater caf venue - and Brecon Cathedral.

Pontardawe International Music Festival

21st - 23rd August 2009

Pontardawe Festival was established in 1978 and has been the focal point of the summer celebrations for people across the UK. The festival remains to this day an international music festival with its roots still firmly in Celtic roots music.

The iconic Welsh band Man lead the way, opening the festival a day earlier than usual on Thursday August 20, supported by two emerging local bands, Bambi Killers and The Last Republic.

Other Welsh acts performing over the weekend include Martyn Joseph, Calan, Delyth Jenkins and Dulci. Also lined up to appear are London-based Rory McLeod, ex-Fairport Convention Ashley Hutchings, Rainbow Chasers, Vin Garbutt and Damian Dempsey.

The international flavor comes from Zimbabwe courtesy of the acclaimed mambo band Harare and reggae maestros Edward II.

African Drumming Session at Cwmcarn Visitor Centre

16th August 2009

Come along to the Cwmcarn Visitor Centre and join them for one of their African Drumming sessions on the 16th August. There are two workshop events on the day from 12pm to 1pm and 1pm to 2pm.

Children in Conflict at Aberystwyth Arts Centre

16 May - 24th June 2009

In the last decade an estimated 2 million children have been killed in armed conflicts; 4 to 5 million more have been disabled and more than 12 million made homeless. Warfare is perpetrated by adults but inevitably impacts on children’s lives.

This exhibition draws together work by eight internationally renowned artists and looks at the ways in which children can become caught up in conflicts created by the adult world.

The works are a result of the artists’ response to both actual experience and more theoretical and political concerns. John Keane for example, a noted war artist, travelled to Angola, southern Africa, with Christian Aid to visit post conflict projects funded by the international development agency.

Llangollen International Eisteddfod

7th July - 12th July 2009

The Llangollen International Eisteddfod is a world-renowned festival of music, song and dance. Competitors from more than fifty countries come together for one week to stand side by side through music.

AWEN International Festival of Poetry and Film

12th – 13th June SYMPOSIUM at ATRiuM (Adam Street, Cardiff)

The Centre for the Study of Media and Culture in Small Nations is hosting the inaugural AWEN festival to illuminate the creative possibilities of a crossover between poetry and film. This free festival will celebrate all possible cross-fertilization between poetry and film, including poetic cinema, cine-poems and poetry films. On the 13th June at the symposium there will be poetry readings from a number of refugees and asylum seekers living in Wales.

Keynote address and screening: ‘Half Lives: Poetry and Chernobyl’ by Mario Petrucci.

Friday 12th June – Registration 5.30-6pm
Programme begins 6pm

Multi-media poetry performance: ‘Remains of a Future City’ by Zoë Skoulding & Alan Holmes.

Friday 12th June – Registration 5.30-6pm
Programme begins 6pm

Poetry readings: Philip Gross, Amani Guemar, Elin ap Hywel, Cyril Jones, Norbert Mbu Mputu, Mario Petrucci.

Saturday 13th June – Registration 9-9.30am
Programme begins 9.30am

Screening: Dal:Yma/Nawr (2004, Dir: Marc Evans) plus Q&A with Ynyr Williams.

Saturday 13th June – Registration 9-9.30am Programme begins 9.30am

RefugeeWeek Wales 2009 is coordinated by the Welsh Refugee Council

For further information please contact:
Hawar Ameen — Policy and Events Officer/Swyddog Polisi a Digwyddiadau

Tel: 02920 432996 or email: Hawar Ameen

www.refugeeweek.org.uk