Glasgow – Piggyback approach.

Many of the events and activities have taken place for Refugee Week have been developed in partnership with already established festivals (arts, cultural, sports etc.) around Glasgow. This ‘piggyback’ approach provided members of the general public not ordinarily involved in RW the opportunity to participate in a range of events and activities and allowed Refugee Week to gain prominence within Glasgow’s mainstream cultural sector.

Examples of partnership events included:

• A series of free concerts celebrating the worldwide fete de la Musique including Dom Duff, Unterbiberger Hofmusik and Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson.
• The World that Comes to Glasgow: The Landscape of Me – An evening of live performance featuring drama, music, film, word performance pieces and poetry from Artists In Exile Glasgow poets, writers, musicians and guest artists. The event explores stories relating to immigration and exile from within the many communities that create Glasgow.
• Fugees United Album Launch – a new music collective from Glasgow which includes young refugee and Scottish rappers.

Peterborough – Bump into Refugee Week

The Peterborough New Link Project organised a number of events that gave members of the general public the opportunity to ‘bump into’ Refugee Week.

New Link worked in partnership with over 50 organisations including voluntary and community groups and local businesses. This success of this approach relied on the agreement of local groups and businesses such as Marks and Spencer, Starbucks, British Red Cross, Waterstones and Eco Works, to display relevant promotional materials and information highlighting refugee contributions and the main local activities of Refugee Week. Examples of these events included:

• Marks & Spencer and Starbucks outlets displaying Refugee Week posters, postcards, balloons and other promotional materials.
• Waterstones displaying literature and music by refugee writers and artists
• “What’s the link between a Mini and Refugee Week?” A Mini parked inside Peterborough’s main shopping centre accompanied by information stalls.

Brighton and Hove – Themed events

Refugee Week events in Brighton & Hove have been organised around a chosen theme. For example, in 2006 events related to refugees and the media. Given the need for positive exposure on refugee issues, it was decided that a media agenda was a chance to carry forward a meaningful message, to foster understanding, to celebrate achievements, to increase participation and to dispel common myths.

This was carried out through a variety of mixed media activities including photojournalism, a documentary film, a discussion panel and workshops. Events were held throughout the week in cinemas, libraries, community centres, sports centres, youth centres and schools. The main event at Hove Town Hall featured films made by refugees and asylum-seekers about their experiences of exile, plus music, workshops and a fashion show featuring traditional costumes from around the world.