Welcome to Refugee Week 2008 in the West Midlands!
The West Midlands celebrated the 10th anniversary of Refugee Week with a packed programme of events and activities across the Region.
The full Regional programme can be accessed here, but these are just a few highlights of the exciting week!
Celebrating Sanctuary Festival - Saturday 14th June, Chamberlain and Victoria Squares, Birmingham City Centre
To kick off Refugee Week 2008, Celebrating Sanctuary Birmingham provided a free open-air festival of music, activities, displays and interactive performances.
World music was brought to Chamberlain Square, where local musicians from refugee backgrounds showcased their talent.
In Victoria Square, Refugee Community Organisations continued the theme through interactive music and dance workshops as well as displays, stalls, educational and awareness-raising activities for children and adults alike.
The mock refugee camp was back this year, allowing the public to experience life and activities in a refugee camp - whether it was rationing food or pumping water!
Food sampling, face painting, circus skills and further street entertainment heightened the festival atmosphere.
For photos of the day's events see BBC Birmingham Celebrating Sanctuary photo gallery.
Refugee Day 2008 at Walsall Art Gallery
Saturday 14th June, The New Art Gallery Walsall
Walsall hosted its own performing arts event with refugee groups performing to music, dance and singing.
The Afghan Community Group were back performing the Attan, a traditional Afghan dance originating from the Afghan Pashtoon tribes in and around the southern borders of Afghanistan.
In addition, the Iranian painter and graphic designer Farhad Samey displayed his impressive art work at the event. Vist Farhad's blog to view his work.
Visit The New Art Gallery website to find out more about future events www.artatwalsall.org.uk.
A World Imagined 2
Puppet display and film first showcased at the Electric Cinema Launch on 16th June.
Birmingham based Craftspace worked with newly arrived families in the Region to explore the potential of making as a form of non-verbal communication.
A year 2 class from Chandos Primary School worked with an artist, automata maker and animator over a 3 month period to develop characters, write stories, create puppets and create a series of short animated films.
The whole project has been documented by photographer and film-maker Hafsah Naib (see photo above) through project and video diaries, exploring the children's ability to express themselves both creatively and verbally.
For more information on the showcasing of the puppets and animated films, contact Deirdre Buckley at d.buckley@craftspace.co.uk
Positive Press Project Film release
June 10th - 25th, repeatedly showing across the Birmingham and Coventry Refugee Week events.
Positive Press, a year long project set up by Save the Children, aimed to give young people a voice on issues that affect them through the use of media.
Young people from Birmingham and Coventry have produced a groundbreaking film that tells the story of Ali, a young unaccompanied refugee from Afghanistan, portraying images of life in both Afghanistan and the UK.
These young writers, directors and actors invite you to witness their reflected experiences through a powerfully moving and challenging film that maps the lives of young refugees and asylum seekers in the region.
For more information on the Positive Press Project, contact Lukano Omunson at L.Omunson@savethechildren.org.uk
For more information about Refugee Week in the West Midlands, please contact Clare Daley at c.daley@wmlga.gov.uk or on 0121 678 1078
