Events and exhibitions celebrating Refugee Week 2023 will take place at venues across Newcastle and Gateshead from 15-25 June. Local organisations have worked together to develop a programme of free activities for families, displaced persons and migrants, 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.
Click on the event titles to find out more details about each of the following events taking place in Newcastle and Gateshead to celebrate Refugee Week 2023. You can also find out more about Sanctuary in Newcastle and across the UK and Refugee Week nationally.
Preview: Future Pasts, Henna Asikainen at 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 at 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.
Positive Post at 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.
Academic Conference – ‘Refugees and asylum-seekers in/and the media’ at 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.
How We Make Things at Shipley Art Gallery, NE8 4JB
Wednesday 21 June, 1-4pm 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.
Let’s Talk Conversation Class with 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.
Theatre Workshop at Newcastle University Armstrong Building (Room 3.38), NE1 7RU Wednesday 21 June, 1.30-4pm 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 at Newcastle University.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service SafetyWorks event at 4-7pm 21 June (drop in) in Benwell, Newastle
Come to the Interactive Safety Centre and receive information on: Home Fire Safety, Road Safety, Water Safety, Personal Safety (provided by Northumbria Police
Community Engagement Team) and more!
Refreshments provided and children welcome.
SafetyWorks is located at: West Fifteen, Whickham View
Benwell, Newcastle NE15 6UN
Circus Skills Workshop at 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.
Headliners Photography Exhibition at 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 at 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.
Where Do You Sit? at 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.
Underneath, Within, Beyond at 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.
Zine-making Workshop at 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.
Welcome to Newcastle at 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 at 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.
Art Workshop at 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.
Refugee Week Celebration with 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.
NE RISE Pop-up Exhibition at 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.
Creative Activities and Workshops at 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!
Future Pasts, Henna Asikainen at Northumbria University Gallery North, NE1 8QE on 16 June – 7 July. Open 12 noon – 4pm Thursday and Friday. Open 10am – 2pm Saturday. Closed Sunday – Wednesday
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.
Refugee Week Celebration with 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.
Welcome to your Library at City Library 24th June 1-3pm: Free to attend, everyone welcome. Books, crafts, food, games, Teddy Bears’ picnic at 2pm.
World Writes Creative Writing Workshop at 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 at 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’.
Sanctuaries of Sound at 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.
Newcastle Sanctuary Forum and Newcastle City of Sanctuary
Newcastle Sanctuary Forum will meet 10-12 on 22nd June at the Civic Centre as part of Newcastle’s celebrations for Refugee Week 2023. The Sanctuary Forum is a space for people to come together to learn, share and explore the issues related to migration and seeking sanctuary in Newcastle. At this Sanctuary Forum the City Council will launch the Council of Sanctuary Strategy which we hope will build upon existing work to further embed the City of Sanctuary principles across the local authority.
Newcastle City of Sanctuary is part of a network of towns and cities throughout the country that are proud to be places of safety, and which include people seeking sanctuary fully in the lives of their communities.
- Find out more about Newcastle City of Sanctuary here
- Find out more about Newcastle Schools of Sanctuary here
- Find out more about Sanctuary Awards for organisations here
National links
Visit the Refugee Week 2023 website for more information about the celebrations nationally, the 2023 theme of Compassion and how you can get involved. For updates, sign up to the Refugee Week newsletter, and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Visit the City of Sanctuary website for information about the Sanctuary movements across the UK – from community groups to councils, schools, libraries and more. Follow on facebook, twitter, instagram and tiktok and sign up to the newsletter here
Find out about Schools of Sanctuary here, with lots of resources and information for schools