Refugee Week takes place every year across the world in the week around World Refugee Day on the 20 June. In the UK, Refugee Week is a nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees to the UK, and encourages a better understanding between communities.

On Wednesday 20 June we will be celebrating Refugee Week at Gulbenkian. In the morning there will be a free screening of Paddington for local primary schools in partnership with BFI London.  The screening is part of a project called ‘Film: a language without borders’ looking at how cinema might help support conversations with children around the issue of migration.

In the evening we are working in partnership with Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) and East Kent City of Sanctuary to put on an event for the local community. ‘Simple of Acts of Kindness’, based on the theme for this year’s celebrations, will involve poetry, theatre, music, screenings and talks on the theme of refuge and asylum.

Gulbenkian’s drama group for unaccompanied young refugees and asylum-seekers, ‘KRAN Fam’ will be performing, building on our partnership with KRAN for the last 2 years.

Members of SCREEN31, our group for budding young film-makers, will also be screening a short film charting the journey of two young Syrian refugees to the UK. The evening will culminate in food and music from across the globe and will launch KRAN’s 15th birthday celebrations.

All proceeds from the event will go to the charity to support their invaluable work with vulnerable young people. We hope that you can join us for a very special evening involving some incredibly brave individuals.