Celebrating Sanctuary London to kick off Refugee Week UK on Sunday 15 June with a free festival on the South Bank

Plus:

  • Palestinian cinema at the BFI (16, 19 and 22 June)
  • New Voices at the V&A Museum of Childhood (21 June)

Celebrating Sanctuary London on the South Bank

Sunday, 16 June 2014, 2 – 7pm, Bernie Spain Gardens, Upper Ground, South Bank, London SE1 9PH (adjacent to Oxo Tower Wharf)Tube: Southwark or Waterloo
Free admission

The UK’s largest free outdoor festival celebrating the arts by, with and about refugees will return to London’s South Bank on Sunday, 15 June, launching Refugee Week UK 2014, a UK-wide programme of cultural and educational events which celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and aims to encourage better understanding between communities.

Celebrating Sanctuary London, now in its 15th year, is a unique day out for the entire family, featuring live music, dance, international food delights, spoken word & poetry, workshops, info stalls, art installations – a delicious, delightful, delirious snapshot of the cultural contribution of refugee artists and refugee communities to the UK, regularly attracting over 20,000 people.

The music line-up, spanning regions from Syria to Rwanda and beyond includes South London/Nigerian Grime MC Afrikan Boy; Somali Party Southall featuring award-winning percussionist Kuljit Bhamra MBE and British Somali singer Abdulkarim Raas; and a collective of talent called Rafiki Jazz whose members have roots in Brazil, Gambia, Mauritius, Senegal, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and the UK. This year’s event also features a number of exclusive collaborations, including the inspired meeting of sounds and voices between Anglo-Polish songbird Katy Carr and Ethiopian born singer Haymanot Tesfa. (Watch out for more announcements about collaborations in the comings weeks). Comedy will come from Somali-born stand-up comedian Prince Abdi.

Celebrating Sanctuary London online:
Homepage: http://www.celebratingsanctuarylondon.org.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CelebratingSanctuaryLondon
Twitter: @cslondonfest #refugeeweek

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In partnership with BFI, Celebrating Sanctuary London is also presenting a selection of Palestinian cinema as part of their Discover Arab Cinema season. The programme includes Q&As and panel discussions after screenings, as well as a reception with music from Reem Kelani, the highly-respected London-based Palestinian singer, musician and musicologist (Reem’s performance follows the screenings on 19 June, as part of a reception from 20.30).

Palestinian Cinema at the BFI16, 19 and 22 June 2014British Film Institute, Southbank, Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8XTTube: Waterloo
For times and to order tickets: https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/Online/

Divine Intervention (16 & 22 June)
Elia Suleiman’s witty, clever and surreal film about life in Palestine.

Some of the Palestinians (19 June)
A documentary that delves into the everyday situations facing refugees. Directed by Mamoun Hassan.

A World Not Ours (19 June)Personal recordings, family archives and historical footage create a sensitive portrait of Palestinian refugees. Directed by Mahdi Fleifel.

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In addition to the main event, Celebrating Sanctuary London is also presenting another free event:

New Voices
Saturday, 21 June 2014, 12pm – 7pmV&A Museum of Childhood, Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9PATube: Bethnal GreenFree admission

Forming part of Refugee Week and Celebrating Sanctuary London, Praxis and New Voices will be taking over the V&A Museum of Childhood with a programme of live music from around the globe – including Family Atlantica, Shane Solanki aka Last Mango in Paris and London Lucumi Choir – as well as interactive activities for all the family. A photographic exhibition developed by young refugees and Simona Aru – a world renown photographer – will tell the story of the often dangerous journey young people have to make to find sanctuary within the UK.

New Voices online:
Homepage: http://newvoicesfestival.org.uk/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/271038713079115/
Twitter: @Praxis_Projects #NewVoices2014