Celebrating Refugee Week 2023 in Newcastle and Gateshead
06 June 2023
"We're excited to celebrate Refugee Week in Newcastle and Gateshead, joining together with many other voluntary, arts and cultural organisations to welcome those making the North East their home."
Events and exhibitions celebrating Refugee Week 2023 will take place at venues across Newcastle and Gateshead from 15-25 June.
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM) has worked alongside local organisations to bring together a programme of free activities, with highlights including circus, theatre, art and creative writing workshops.
A programme leaflet has been distributed directly to refugees and asylum seekers in Newcastle and Gateshead.
Refugee Week is an annual festival that celebrates the contributions, creativity and resilience of people seeking sanctuary. It has been running in the UK since 1998 and is always held around World Refugee Day (20 June).
This year’s festival theme is ‘Compassion’ and the activities in Newcastle and Gateshead aim to show how arts and culture can help to foster compassion for all people.
Nicola Maxwell, Project Co-ordinator at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM), said:
"We're excited to celebrate Refugee Week in Newcastle and Gateshead, joining together with many other voluntary, arts and cultural organisations to welcome those making the North East their home.
"Multaka (which means 'meeting point' in Arabic) is TWAM’s volunteering project for people with a migration background. We're especially excited for the 'Multaka Presents' event at the Great North Museum: Hancock on Monday 19 June.
“Volunteers from the group will be sharing their highlights of the museum in multiple languages from 1.30-3.30pm. All are welcome to attend."
Full programme of activity
Events
Preview: Future Pasts, Henna Asikainen
Northumbria University Gallery North, NE1 8QE
Thursday 15 June, 5-7pm
Free entry. Just turn up. Free refreshments provided. Local public transport tickets refunded
Join D6: Culture in Transit for a special exhibition preview event. Artist Henna Asikainen brings together people new to the North East to discover local landscapes.
Multaka Presents
Great North Museum: Hancock, NE2 4PT
Monday 19 June, 1.30-3.30pm
Free entry. Just turn up
The Multaka volunteering team will share their highlights of the Great North Museum in multiple languages. You can explore the museum with tours and activities created by Multaka volunteers.
Academic Conference – ‘Refugees and asylum-seekers in/and the media’
Newcastle University Armstrong Building, NE1 7RU
Tuesday 20 June, 9am - 5pm
Free entry. Email m.s.heslop2@ncl.ac.uk to book. Free refreshments provided. Local public transport tickets refunded
There are several free places at this academic conference for sanctuary seekers and people with refugee status. Please contact m.s.heslop2@ncl.ac.uk for more information.
Positive Post
Laing Art Gallery, NE1 8AG
Tuesday 20 June, 11am - 1pm and 2-4pm
Free entry. Just turn up. Free refreshments provided
Work with artist Mani Kambo to create simple block-printed cards inspired by the artworks in the gallery. We will write positive messages inside the cards to give to our loved ones. You can also create a plaited friendship bracelet.
Curious Caravan & Games
Magic Hat Café (outside), NE1 8AF
Tuesday 20 June, 11am - 5pm
Free entry. Just turn up
Come and hear some stories, share tea and cake inside Curious Monkey's colourful caravan and take part in a variety of games with West End Refugee Service (WERS).
Let’s Talk Conversation Class
Reviving the Heart of the West End, NE4 8AW
Tuesday 20 June, 12 noon - 2pm
Free entry. Just turn up. Free refreshments provided
This conversation class will help increase your confidence in spoken English. The class has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Sharing of Work by Curious Monkey’s ‘Arriving’ Performance Group
Magic Hat Café, NE1 8AF
Tuesday 20 June, 5-6pm and 7.30-8.30pm
Free entry. Text or WhatsApp Felour to book: 07497221708
For some of us, Newcastle has been home for twenty years. For some of us, Newcastle has been home for twenty weeks. Join us for free food, music and words that celebrate our new sense of belonging. Suitable for adults and young people aged 14+.
How We Make Things
Shipley Art Gallery, NE8 4JB
Wednesday 21 June, 1-3.30pm
Free entry. Just turn up
Come along to the Shipley and learn how people from different cultures make and craft the same objects and share your own crafting skills. Bring your own craft materials and learn and create with others in a friendly environment.
Theatre Workshop
West End Refugee Service, NE4 5JE
Wednesday 21 June, 2-4pm
Free entry. Just turn up. Free refreshments provided. Local public transport tickets refunded
Families can enjoy a theatre workshop with Ali Ghaderi of Babylon Theatre. Part of Sanctuary Songs Arts Festival organised by Newcastle University.
Please note that this event will now take place at West End Refugee Service, not Newcastle University as previously advertised.
Zine-making Workshop
Hatton Gallery (Learning Space), NE1 7RU
Wednesday 21 June, 2-4pm
Free entry. Just turn up. Free refreshments provided. Local public transport tickets refunded
Make your own zine on the theme of compassion in this collaborative workshop with artist Theresa Easton. Part of Sanctuary Songs Arts Festival at Newcastle University.
Circus Skills Workshop
Newcastle University Boiler House, NE1 7RU
Thursday 22 June, 10am - 12 noon
Free entry. Email m.s.heslop2@ncl.ac.uk to book. Free refreshments provided. Local public transport tickets refunded
Families can enjoy learning circus skills in this workshop with N.E.S.T. Part of Sanctuary Songs Arts Festival at Newcastle University.
Welcome to Newcastle
DiverCity Hub, NE4 5QR
Thursday 22 June, 10.30am - 12.30pm and 5.30-7.30pm
Free entry. Just turn up. Free refreshments provided. Local public transport tickets refunded
Join us to talk about the City of Newcastle through various objects. We’ll discover our shared history and the heritage of Newcastle.
Wellbeing Workshop for Women
Laing Art Gallery, NE1 8AG
Thursday 22 June, 11.30am – 1.30pm and 2.30–4.30pm
Free entry. Women only. Just turn up. Free refreshments provided
Curious Monkey's women's group will share some of the wellbeing activities they have been doing together. You can expect relaxing music, dancing, gentle yoga, breathing and meditation.
Refugee Week Celebration
Action Foundation (Turbine Hall), NE1 2JQ
Thursday 22 June, 12 noon onwards
Free entry. Just turn up. Free refreshments provided
Action Foundation supports refugees and asylum seekers experiencing isolation in Tyne and Wear. Join us to celebrate Refugee Week. We will make food and invite volunteers and clients to dance and play music.
Art Workshop
Hatton Gallery (Learning Space), NE1 7RU
Friday 23 June, 10.30am – 3pm
Free entry. Just turn up. Free refreshments provided. Local public transport tickets refunded
Families can enjoy this drop-in art workshop with artist Katie Cuddon. Part of Sanctuary Songs Arts Festival at Newcastle University.
World Writes Creative Writing Workshop
Newcastle Deaf Centre, NE4 6EE
Saturday 24 June, 10am – 1pm
Free entry. Just turn up. Local public transport tickets refunded
World Writes – with New Writing North – is a free multilingual English language creative writing group for adults who speak English as a second, or other language (ESOL). World Writes encourages and supports members to think and write creatively whilst developing their English language skills. No experience necessary.
Monster Stories
Great North Museum: Hancock, NE2 4PT
Saturday 24 June, 10am – 2pm
Free entry. Just turn up. Local public transport tickets refunded
Learn about the Lambton Worm, a local fairytale monster from County Durham. Make your own worm in cardboard to take home with you. You can also visit the new exhibition, ‘Myth Quest: Monsters and Mortals’.
Welcome to your Libraries
Newcastle City Library (Bewick Hall), NE1 8AX
Saturday 24 June, 1-3pm
Free entry. Just turn up. Free refreshments provided
Discover what the library has for you. We will have books, games and simple crafts. We will also host a special Teddy Bears’ picnic to introduce families to this fun tradition.
Creative Activities and Workshops
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, NE8 3BA
Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 June, 11am – 3pm both days
Free entry. Just turn up. Free refreshments provided. Local public transport tickets refunded
Join the team at Baltic for two afternoons of yoga, paper crafts, hand massages and more!
Exhibitions
Future Pasts, Henna Asikainen
Northumbria University Gallery North, NE1 8QE
Monday 19 - Friday 23 June, 12 noon - 4pm
Saturday 24 June, 10am - 2pm
Thursday 29 June, 12 noon - 4pm
Friday 30 June, 12 noon - 4pm
Thursday 6 July, 12 noon - 4pm
Friday 7 July, 12 noon - 4pm
Free entry. Just turn up
Future Pasts is Henna Asikainen’s latest commission with D6: Culture in Transit. The project invited people with lived experience of migration to explore local landscapes along Hadrian’s Wall. Henna and participants documented the walks with photos, poetry and a performative protest.
NE RISE Pop-up Exhibition
Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, NE8 3BA
21-25 June, 10am – 6pm
Free entry. Just turn up
The North East Refugee Integration Support and Employment (NE RISE) service helps refugees and their families build the foundations for a happy life in the region. This exhibition at Baltic features works from clients on the NE RISE programme.
Underneath, Within, Beyond
Hatton Gallery (Long Gallery and Atrium), NE1 7RU
23-25 June, 10am – 5pm
Free entry. Just turn up
Inspired by the underneath and often hidden parts of plants at Preston Park Museum's Winter Gardens and our own stories and dreams, Underneath, Within, Beyond is an exhibition of prints that celebrates the beauty of growth. This exhibition and film has been created by Skimstone Arts' The Sun & The Soul company made up of people with lived refugee experience living in Stockton and Sunderland and premiered at Preston Park Museum and Gardens, Stockton on Tees as part of Skimstone Arts national UNITY Festival 2023. Part of Sanctuary Songs Arts Festival at Newcastle University.
Where Do You Sit?
Hatton Gallery (Long Gallery and Atrium), NE1 7RU
23-25 June, 10am - 5pm
Free entry. Just turn up
Where Do You Sit? features portraits of ordinary people who have shared extraordinary stories or co-created poems and lyrics responding to the theme of Holocaust Memorial Day captured by Associate Artists Shahor Omar and Ako Ismail (with lived refugee experience) and Skimstone Arts’ Artistic Director Claire Webster Saaremets and premiered as part of Newcastle’s programme for national Holocaust Memorial Day events in January 2023. Part of Sanctuary Songs Arts Festival at Newcastle University.
Headliners Photography Exhibition
Hatton Gallery (Long Gallery and Atrium), NE1 7RU
23-25 June, 10am - 5pm
Free entry. Just turn up
This photography exhibition created by Headliners showcases the creative work of young people from Newcastle and North Tyneside including refugees, asylum seekers, those who are Care-experienced, and those with special educational needs. Part of Sanctuary Songs Arts Festival at Newcastle University.
Building Bridges Exhibition
Hatton Gallery (Long Gallery and Atrium), NE1 7RU
23-25 June, 10am - 5pm
Free entry. Just turn up
The group is made up of Fine Art students and Sanctuary Seekers in the North East. At weekly sessions in the Hatton Gallery Learning Space the group come together to make visual art and build new relationships. The group co-creates art projects that incorporate drawing, printing and painting. Part of Sanctuary Songs Arts Festival at Newcastle University.
Sanctuaries of Sound
Hatton Gallery (red brick Arches outside), NE1 7RU
23-25 June, 10am - 5pm
Free entry. Just turn up
In the atmospheric red brick Arches (just outside the Hatton Gallery), a collaborative sound installation made by The Resonators - a collective of people with lived refugee experience, with West End Refugee Service, Skimstone Arts’ Claire Webster Saaramets' and artist Martin Heslop. Together they have been exploring the urban and natural soundscape of Newcastle, listening, field-recording and writing, to collectively compose this immersive piece. Part of Sanctuary Songs Arts Festival at Newcastle University.
You can find more events taking place in the North East at refugeeweek.org.uk
