Full list of Refugee Week events in Hastings and St Leonards

Sussex is celebrating Refugee Week with a series of events and creative actions in Hastings, St Leonards and beyond.
Save the dates in your diary: celebrate the value of the refugee and migrant experience in SussexSave the dates in your diary: celebrate the value of the refugee and migrant experience in Sussex
Save the dates in your diary: celebrate the value of the refugee and migrant experience in Sussex

The local events marking Refugee Week (June 20 - 26) highlight and value the migrant experience, promoting the Refugee Week 2022 theme healing through creativity and conversations.

There are three main events – the Mr Gay Syria Film Screen, the All Refugees Welcome discussion, and the Where Are You Really From gallery exhibition – together with a number of other events throughout the week.

Mr Gay Syria Film Screening, Hastings Museum and Art Gallery

There is a packed calendar of events, with something to suit everyoneThere is a packed calendar of events, with something to suit everyone
There is a packed calendar of events, with something to suit everyone

Celebrating both Refugee Week and June PRIDE Month, this is an evening at the cinema followed with some marvellous traditional Syrian food.

Mr. Gay Syria follows two gay Syrian refugees who are trying to rebuild their lives. Will the dream come true or will the refugee crisis and the harsh consequences of being gay in the Muslim world shatter it to pieces? This screening will be followed by a panel discussion hosted by Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants, including Laura Clarke, co-Founder and Director of Egg Tooth as well as one of the project participants, Basil, who has direct experience of the themes of film.

The event is free but booking is essential. From 4.30 -9.30pm.

Tuesday, June 22: All Refugees Welcome , De La Warr Pavilion

This panel discussion seeks to ask questions about the role images have played in our understanding of migration and asylum seeking in the UK, the dominant narratives that prevail in the media and the counter narratives that emerge. Most importantly we will discuss the impact these narratives have on individuals, families and communities settling in the United Kingdom. Speaking at this panel will be Jessica Crombie, Amak Mahmoodian, Daniel Trilling, Maz Saleem, Shannon Ghannam and Rossana Leal, founder of the Refugee Buddy.

Saturday 18th June – Thursday 14th July: Where are you Really From? Hastings Museum and Art Gallery

From homeland to heritage, ancestry and culture, the work displayed explores our roots, stories and sense of identity.

The patchwork pieces on display are created by local people with experience of immigration and seeking refuge, and the volunteers who support them in building new lives in Hastings.

Through a series of workshops facilitated by artists Jimena Pardo and Janey Moffatt, project participants shared stories, reflected on the objects, images and words they could use in their patchwork, and learnt a variety of stitching techniques to bring everything together.

This event runs from 10am to 5pm, free to enter.

Rossana Leal, Founder and Director, The Refugee Buddy Project, said: “We are delighted to be coordinating this amazing selection of Refugee Week activities having spent the last two years with our activities mainly online, especially as this year marks five years since we set up the Project.

“We encourage everyone to grab a map from one of the participating galleries or shops, or our Community Café, and you’ll be sure to find an event (or five) which suits you. We look forward to celebrating Hastings and St Leonards as a community of welcome, standing in solidarity with all people seeking refuge.”

The full listings are below:

Saturday, June 18

As well as the film and panel discussion and major exhibition, also on Saturday, June 18, are the Big Yin Gallery exhibition: Studio Lenca, from 11am to 5pm, free to enter.

On the same day there will be a Picnic Photo Workshop for Young People (10-16) with artist Masie Cousins, at The Pocket Park, Hughenden Road. 2 – 5pm, free, but booking essential)

Sunday, June 19

In addition to the main events other options include:

Electric Palace with The Association of Ukranians in GB will be screening the film The Earth Is Blue as an Orange (English subtitles). 11am. Free

Big Yin Gallery – Exhibition: Studio Lenca. 12-4pm. Free

Stella Dore Gallery - Talk and print sale by Giles Duley, Legacy of War Foundation. 6-9pm. Free (booking essential)

Monday, June 20

Painted Suntrap Booths – Chatty Bench, The Refugee Buddy Project with HEART volunteers. All day. Free, drop-in

Milk and Hustle – Window Display + Art for sale 8am-2pm

The Refugee Buddy Project Community Café – Window Gallery Installation by Colin Booth – All that is Gone All Day. Free.

The Nest – Exhibition: Family, Faith, Community, Home. Photos capturing life in his new home by young Syrian photographer Nour Alezou. 9am - 5pm. Free

Big Yin Gallery – Exhibition: Studio Lenca. Artist’s talk. Gallery open 5 – 7pm. Free

Black Butterfly at Small Acts, Kings Road – Afterschool Family Book Club exploring journeys and migration. 4-6pm. Free

St Leonards Ceramics Studio – Window display + sale: Pass It On. Collaborative ceramic sculptures by studio members and students from SLCS and The Mudworks.

Tuesday, June 21

The Refugee Buddy Project & Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, Where are you really from? Exhibition. 10am – 5pm. Free

Painted Suntrap Booths – Chatty Bench, TThe Refugee Buddy Project with HEART volunteers. All day. Free, drop-in

Milk and Hustle – Window Display + Art for sale 8am-2pm

The Nest – Exhibition: Family, Faith, Community, Home. Photos capturing life in his new home by young Syrian photographer Nour Alezou, 9am - 5pm. Free

Black Butterfly at Hattons Yard, Hatherley Rd – Food & Culture Event. Drop-in from 11am. Free

The Refugee Buddy Project Community Café – Window Gallery Installation by Colin Booth – All that is Gone All Day. Free.

St Leonards Ceramics Studio – Window display + sale: Pass It On. Collaborative ceramic sculptures by studio members and students from SLCS and The Mudworks.

Wednesday, June 22

The Refugee Buddy Project & Hastings Museum and Art Gallery. Where are you really from? Exhibition. 10am – 5pm. Free

Painted Suntrap Booths – Chatty Bench, The Refugee Buddy Project with HEART volunteers. All day. Free, drop-in

Milk and Hustle – Window Display + Art for sale 8am-2pm

The Nest – Exhibition: Family, Faith, Community, Home. Photos capturing life in his new home by young Syrian photographer Nour Alezou. 9am - 5pm. Free

The Refugee Buddy Project Community Café – Window Gallery Installation by Colin Booth – All that is Gone All Day. Free.

St Leonards Ceramics Studio – Window display + sale: Pass It On. Collaborative ceramic sculptures by studio members and students from SLCS and The Mudworks.

The Refugee Buddy Project and Shannon Ghannam, The Magnum Photos Foundation, at the De La Warr Pavillion – lunch and panel discussion “All Refugees Welcome” Buffet Lunch 12.30, Talk 1.30 – 3.30. Booking essential

The St Leonard Pub with Curious Brew – Pub Quiz in aid of The Refugee Buddy Project. 8pm. £2 entry

Thursday, June 23

The Refugee Buddy Project & Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, Where are you really from? Exhibition. 10am – 5pm. Free

Painted Suntrap Booths – Chatty Bench, The Refugee Buddy Project with HEART volunteers. All day. Free, drop-in

Milk and Hustle – Window Display + Art for sale 8am-2pm

The Nest – Exhibition: Family, Faith, Community, Home. Photos capturing life in his new home by young Syrian photographer Nour Alezou. 9am - 5pm. Free

The Refugee Buddy Project Community Café – Window Gallery Installation by Colin Booth – All that is Gone All Day. Free.

St Leonards Ceramics Studio – Window display + sale: Pass It On. Collaborative ceramic sculptures by studio members and students from SLCS and The Mudworks.

Project 78 - Messages: Exhibition of work by children from Ore Village Primary School working with artist Jaf Yusuf. 11am – 5pm. Free

Stella Dore Gallery - Talk by Mexican artist Pablo Allison. 6-9pm Free

Friday, June 24

Painted Suntrap Booths – Chatty Bench, The Refugee Buddy Project with HEART volunteers. All day. Free, drop-in

Milk and Hustle – Window Display + Art for sale 8am-2pm

The Nest – Exhibition: Family, Faith, Community, Home. Photos capturing life in his new home by young Syrian photographer Nour Alezou, 9am - 5pm. Free

The Refugee Buddy Project Community Café – Window Gallery Installation by Colin Booth – All that is Gone All day. Free

Stella Dore Gallery – Exhibition: Pablo Allison + Giles Duley. 11am-5pm. Free

Project 78 - Messages: Exhibition of work by children from Ore Village Primary School working with artist Jaf Yusuf. 11am – 5pm. Free

St Leonards Ceramics Studio – Workshop. Free, drop-in 4-6pm (places limited). Window display + sale: Pass It On. Collaborative ceramic sculptures by studio members and students from SLCS and The Mudworks.

Afri-co-lab - Exhibition: The Sitter And Their Stories - Life Drawathon 4pm – 9pm. Free

The Refugee Buddy Project Community Café – Friday FEAST! Delicious free Syrian food, cooked by our community chefs, to share with friends and family on the Old Bathing Pool ground, W. St Leonards

BikeLab Hastings + Black Butterfly seafront bike ride to the Friday Feast. Free. Bring or borrow a bike and meet at 5pm at The Labyrinth.

BikeLab Hastings Film Screening: Ovarian Psychos 8.30pm at the Labyrinth.

Saturday, June 25

Painted Suntrap Booths – Chatty Bench, The Refugee Buddy Project with HEART volunteers. All day. Free, drop-in

Milk and Hustle – Window Display + Art for sale 8am-2pm

The Nest – Exhibition: Family, Faith, Community, Home. Photos capturing life in his new home by young Syrian photographer Nour Alezou, 9am - 5pm. Free

The Refugee Buddy Project Community Café – Window Gallery Installation by Colin Booth – All that is Gone All day. Free

St Leonards Ceramics Studio – Window display + sale: Pass It On. Collaborative ceramic sculptures by studio members and students from SLCS and The Mudworks.

Stella Dore Gallery – Exhibition: Pablo Allison + Giles Duley. 11am -5pm. Free

Big Yin Gallery – Exhibition: Studio Lenca. 11am-5pm Free

Project 78 - Messages: Exhibition of work by children from Ore Village Primary School working with artist Jaf Yusuf. 11am – 5pm. Free

Suzie Zamit Studio – Workshop: Missing You. 11-5pm. Free, drop-in (places limited)

Picnic Photo Workshop for Young People (10-16) with artist Masie Cousins, at Picnic, 40 Marina 2 – 5pm, Free, booking essential

Kino Teatr – Film Limbo: 7.30 pm (book online)

Sanctuary Festival Comedy Special: 7.00pm (book online) A night of comedy. 7.30 – 10pm. £11.37 (book online) Funds to be split between The Refugee Buddy Project, Hastings Supports Refugees and Freedom from Torture

Sunday, June 26

Hastings Community of Sanctuary Presents: The Sanctuary Festival, Hastings Museum + Art Gallery 12am-7pm. Free, drop-in

The Refugee Buddy Project & Hastings Museum & Art Gallery, Where are you really from? Exhibition. 11am – 5pm. Free

Big Yin Gallery – Exhibition: @Studio Lenca. 12-4pm. Free

Kino Teatr – Film Flee: 2.00 pm (book online)

Over 18 organisations, 15 artists and dozens of local volunteers are generously creating and supporting activities and events in locations across the town.

Many events are free, though some will require reservations, with any profits from sales going to The Refuge Buddy Project.

For a full listing of events and actions visit the website www.therefugeebuddyproject.org or pick up the free map – designed by local animator Sarah Gomes Harris – in participating shops and galleries.