Refugee Festival Scotland 2023 came to a close on Sunday after a ten-day celebration of the skills, talents, and diversity of refugees and people seeking asylum in Scotland.
The festival featured more than 130 events, bringing people from all walks of life together to learn about and celebrate the contributions of people seeking safety to Scottish society. Events took place in towns to cities from The Highlands to The Borders.
The festival was a huge success, with people attending events across the country. Some of our highlights included:
- Honouring the exceptional work of journalists in their reporting of refugee and asylum issues at our annual Refugee Festival Scotland Media Awards. It was an emotional and inspiring evening for all. See the winners and their work here.
- Launching our new podcast HOPE, co-created by a group of radio presenters, podcast hosts, filmmakers and creatives with lived experience of seeking refuge. We were also delighted to have STV along to cover the launch and highlight the wonderful work of ReSista Spice. Find out more and watch the STV coverage here.
- Gathering together at Glasgow’s Civic House on World Refugee Day to show solidarity with the 110 million people around the world who have been forced from their homes by conflict and persecution.
- Opening our exhibition Everyday Hope – a piece of work we commissioned Somalian-born photographer, Najma Abukar, to create. Everyday Hope is a series of photographic portraits, accompanied by conversations with eight people who have lived experience of forced displacement and who are now settled in Scotland. Find out more here.
There were also picnics, film screenings, art exhibitions, musical performances, and even a fashion show, all of which offered opportunities to get together, learn more about each other, and share our hopes for a better future together.
It’s been a jam-packed 10 days! WATCH the video to see some of the feel-good events that took place during the festival.
Refugee Festival Scotland would not have been possible without the support of the many groups and individuals who put so much effort into organising events, as well as the hard work of the staff and volunteers who made it all happen. It is a truly community-powered event, and it is a testament to the power of people coming together to create something special.
Thank you again and see you next year!
Did you attend a Refugee Festival Scotland event? We’d love to hear your views. You can give us your feedback here.
