Hastings Refugee Week: Find out what’s on as East Sussex hosts events celebrating compassion June 18-25

Hastings shows its compassionate and artistic side in events planned for Refugee Week

Hastings is gearing up for seven days of fantastic events showcasing the town’s artistic talents for this year’s Refugee Week

Refugee Week is a nationally recognised week of action where events are run recognising the contribution of refugees and displaced people from around the world.

In Hastings The Refugee Buddy Project was awarded Art Council Funding to host a series of events for Refugee Week - which takes place between June 18 and 25 – and is celebrating the artistic talents of the whole community at various venues along the coast near Hastings.

Alex Kempton, Director of Operations and Campaigns at The Refugee Buddy Project explained: “The theme of this year’s Refugee Week is compassion.

Refugee Week in Hastings –save the date June 18-25

“We wanted to bring together our already compassionate community and allow them the opportunity to get involved,” she said. The exhibitions showcase the talents of local people seeking refugee and displaced people as well as allowing local artists, businesses and individuals to get involved and celebrate what compassion looks like in action, here in Hastings.

From textiles to photography; pub quizzes to community feasts, most events are free, or ask for a small donation to raise money to support the work of the project.

A full calendar of what’s on will be published online so keep checking their website for the full calendar, or why not pop in to the community café at The Dove Café, 19 Bexhill Road for great coffee and homemade cakes (you won’t be sorry!) and pick up a printed leaflet giving all the details.

Save the dates

There's a lot planned for Refugee Week in Hastings

Here we’ve picked out a few highlights of the events and exhibitions already planned to give you a flavour of what to expect.

‘Stitch for Change’, Hastings Contemporary, Rock-A-Nore Road, Hastings. This is an exhibition of textile stories created through mixed media textiles, threads and patchwork, gbvin workshops led by artist Janey Moffatt. Opening times – Wed-Sun 11-5pm Reduced price for Hastings residents, free for members of the refugee community.

‘And they were you’, Electro Studios, 5 Seaside Road, St Leonards. An exhibition of works exploring aspects of compassion in community featuring Chloe Dewe Mathews, Chiara Fabbro, Nour El-Din, Lou Gerring, Tal Refahi. Openings are Thursday June 22 11am – 5pm with the opening event 6-8pm; Friday June 23 11am-8pm. and Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 from 11am-5pm.

Pub Quiz for Refugee Week by Yara El Sherbini, hosted by Aya Haidar, at The St Leonard Pub 16-18 London Road. Wednesday, June 21 at 8pm. £1 entry, limited edition prizes. All proceeds in aid of The Refugee Buddy Project.

Bike Ride and Community feast. Join the Friday evening celebration of our compassionate community, share great food in good company. Friday June 23 – meet for the ride on the seafront at Warrior Square, 4pm and then at the Old Bathing Ground, Seaside Road, TN38 0AL at 6-8pm for the community feast

Magnum Photos Foundation and The Refugee Buddy Project present Tours and Talks for Refugee Week: ‘Panel Discussion: How can the arts help us hold difficult discussions and find common ground on issues that divide us? at The De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill, TN40 1DP, on Monday June 19 at 5-8pm. Curators tour of the Mohammed Sami exhibition plus Open Studio: Young Creatives Collective a joint project which has been mentoring young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds to explore their creativity and creative ambitions.

Arpillerando en Exilio an exhibition of Chilean arpilleras curated by artist Jimena Pardo at The Nest, Hastings, TN34 3EW Tuesday June 20 to Sunday June 25 10am-4pm. Compassion is a Verb, a textile artwork initiated by Jimena Pardo in a community workshop supported by Eggtooth. See the exhibition and contribute an embroidered text to continue this collaborative artwork.

Intersecting Identities: The journeys of migrants and people seeking refuge we are delighted to be joined by Greek organisation Inter Alia who are bringing their project Outcast Europe to our shores to present and record personal objects brought to Hastings by people seeking refuge. Friday June 23 Electro Studios 5 Seaside Road, St Leonards

Events at the community café, The Dove Café, 19 Bexhill Road include: Sarah Malpas leads Compassionate Collage workshops – Tuesday June 20; Nour El-Din – West St Leonards International, a selection of photographic portraits and Abraham Osorio, window painting.

Who are The Refugee Buddy Project?

The project opened its doors in 2017 as a community group to provide welcome for people who had recently arrived in Hastings seeking refuge and safety. Now, as a registered charity, it helps over 300 individuals through buddying, advocacy and financial and emotional support for the most vulnerable in the community. It also runs a community cafe and gallery The Dove Café, located at 19 Bexhill Road.

Find out more here.