Celebrating Refugee Week at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums

Refugee Week 2024 takes place from 17-23 June and museums across Tyneside are offering activities and hosting events to celebrate.

Refugee Week is the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary. Established in 1998 in the UK, this annual festival aligns with World Refugee Day, celebrated globally on 20 June.

The events and activities at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums have taken inspiration from Refugee Week’s Simple Acts campaign – nine everyday actions everyone can do to stand with refugees and make new connections in their communities:

1. Watch a film
2. Discover a story
3. Share the message
4. Make a new connection
5. Share a meal
6. Walk together
7. Care for our home
8. Get active
9. Join the movement

The full programme can be read below.

All week at Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort, South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, and Stephenson Steam Railway visitors can pick up a pack of sunflower seeds to plant at home.

All week at Discovery Museum, visitors can watch a series of short films created as part of the Multaka North East project. In the films, group participants give guided museum tours and explanations in their first languages, with English subtitles provided. These films can also be watched online below.

All week at Laing Art Gallery, visitors can pick up a map featuring two special walking routes. The first walk ends at Discovery Museum and the second walk ends at Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.

All week at Shipley Art Gallery, visitors can pick up an embroidery kit and create their own orange heart using cross stitch and back stitch. The orange heart symbol represents compassion for people fleeing war and persecution. Inspired by the refugee nation flag, and the colours of a lifebelt, the heart symbolises hope and kindness.

On Tuesday 18 June, sanctuary seekers enjoyed a sensory nature walk in the grounds of Hatton Gallery, led by artist Theresa Easton. The group made sketches of the plants they noticed, followed by refreshments and conversation in the gallery.

On Thursday 20 June, members of the group at Walking With in North Tyneside will enjoy a picnic at Segedunum Roman Fort.

On Saturday 22 June at the Great North Museum: Hancock, artist Henna Asikainen will host ‘Our Home’ - a celebration event with food, conversation and a nest-making workshop using foraged natural materials. Natural history collections from the museum will be on hand for inspiration. This event has been organised alongside North East Solidarity and Teaching at Newcastle University (N.E.S.T).

Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums has recently achieved Museums of Sanctuary status from City of Sanctuary UK.

Sanctuary awards are given to organisations that go above and beyond to welcome people seeking sanctuary.

On the award, Clare Smith, Learning and Engagement Manager, said:

“Museums and galleries are at the heart of the UK’s town and cities. That makes us well placed to celebrate the achievements and contributions of everyone in our communities – including sanctuary seekers.

“We'll continue to use our Museums of Sanctuary to promote a society that is fairer, more compassionate and more welcoming.”