From Refugee Week Scotland:

This summer Scotland will host the Commonwealth Games, and with visitors from all over the world coming to our country, what better time for Refugee Week Scotland to take on the theme of ‘welcome’.

But it’s not just visitors want to welcome. At a time with increasingly negative attitudes towards migrants in the UK, we want to send a strong message that refugees and those seeking asylum are welcome in our communities.

The 2014 programme

Discover the vibrancy and dynamism of Scotland’s cultures for yourself through our programme of over 120 music, theatre, dance, film, sports discussion, visual arts events, club nights, community celebrations, family days and workshops – promising something for everyone.

Pick up a hard copy of the programme available at various venues around town or at our Cadogan Square office, view or download the .pdf-version, browse through all the events in our events calendar, or take a look at the events on our interactive map.

A festival for everyone – celebrating the contribution of refugees to Scotland

Refugee Week is a UK-wide festival of arts, cultural and educational events that takes place each June and celebrates the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities.

In Scotland, the programme is co-ordinated by Scottish Refugee Council and includes a vibrant mix of theatre, dance, exhibitions, film screenings, sports, seminars and community celebrations, which are held all over the country.

Refugee Week was first held in 1998, and was created in response to the increasingly negative perceptions of refugees and asylum seekers held by the general public in Britain. It remains the only UK-wide event that promotes the importance of sanctuary and the benefits it can bring to both refugees and host communities.