Scottish Refugee Week is here!

14 – 24 June is the celebration of the Scottish Refugee Festival, where the contributions of the many people seeking safety in Scotland are celebrated. As well as a programme of national events, there are local celebrations happening here in Dumfries and Galloway. Read on to find out more…

Refugee Festival Scotland is an annual celebration of creativity, culture and community.

Every summer we share a packed programme of exciting events organised by groups, organisations and individuals across the country. Our unique festival showcases the art, food, music, language, customs and ideas that people bring with them when they settle in Scotland.

This year’s festival theme is RISE.

Everyone is welcome to take part!

What’s happening locally?

Rise with MOOL, 18 – 22 June 

Times: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm / 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm dailyVenue: The Press, 117 High Street, DumfriesPrice: FreeRISE with MOOL is both a celebration of our rich, diverse cultural community and an opportunity for creative expression.Working with writers, artists and local facilitators in the lead up to Refugee Week, Refugees, New Scots and Asylum Seekers in the region have produced creative writing and devised art installations through a series of workshops which has led to this exhibition in our temporary gallery, The Press, in Dumfries town centre. The work has been created by all ages and nationalities. It is both a personal and group reflection of journeys taken, present experiences and those unknown journeys still to come.Members of the public are warmly invited to add their own experiences of RISE to one of the installation pieces.This event has been facilitated and organised by MOOL however, it could not have happened without the generous support of DGMA and many wonderful individuals and organisations.No booking is necessary, just turn up!

Commemorative events took place to mark the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings on Thursday 6 June, including a Parade and Wreath Laying Ceremony at Garlieston War Memorial.

An evening with Eileen Kay, 18 June

Times: 7:00 pm startVenue: Cakes and Ales Cafe, Castle Street, CarlislePrice: Free to attendOn 18 June at Cakes and Ales Cafe in Carlisle, Dumfries-based author Eileen Kay will discuss her latest book “Hope, Laughter, Survival – On the Refugee Trail from Africa via Ukraine to Hungary and beyond”, the fourth in her ‘Noodle Trails’ series of travel memoirs.The book is a first-hand account of Eileen’s time in Budapest where she witnessed the arrival of thousands of displaced people from Ukraine. Full of good humour and compelling narratives, the book includes stories like the Ukrainian grandma who downed a drone with a jar of tomatoes, and the story of soldiers who were threatened by a Russian warship and responded with obscenities.Eileen met and befriended a group of medical students who had been studying in Ukraine. Many of their stories are also told in the book, along with wider accounts of how the community came together and responded with kindness to support people fleeing the conflict. Eileen draws from her extensive travel experience and seeks to use sharp humour and a passion for people to tell stories of her travels around the world. A US expat, she has previously worked for the BBC, KISS-100 FM Radio, and as a stand-up comedian. Now based in Dumfries, she continues to travel, teaches English, and is on a challenge to write as many travel memoirs as possible.In keeping with the themes of the latest book, all profits will be donated to organisations supporting refugees.

Dumfries International Street Food Festival, 22 June

Times: 10:00 am – 4:00 pmVenue: Dock Park, DumfriesPrice: Free to attendWho’s hungry?! Dumfries International Food Festival is back!There will be a packed park so you can pack your plate and enjoy some of the most unique and exciting flavours Dumfries has to offer alongside entertainment and storytelling stages and areas which play host to amazing local talent; and this year we even have a wet weather tent!This is the last day of Refugee Week, making it the perfect date to celebrate the ways our lives are improved by having people from different cultures and backgrounds come to our area.We have an exciting list of stalls, Commercial and Community but we are looking for more people to get involved.

Photography Festival at Shambellie House,  28 June – 14 July

Times: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm dailyVenue: Shambellie House, New AbbeyPrice: £5 entry feeShambellie House Trust was delighted to host some local refugees on Friday 14th June. Supported by funding from Refugee Festival Scotland, a group came to enjoy the wonderful outdoor space, prepare and cook some delicious Afghan cuisine and explore photography with photographers of Shambellie House. They made good use of the Mac Digital Suite to edit and print photographs which will feature in the Photography Festival which starts on the 28th June.The theme is ‘Community’ and everyone is welcome to come and see the wonderful photographs in the exhibition, maybe join a workshop or talk and enjoy the relaxing welcoming setting at Shambellie House.  Supported by Dumfries and Galloway Council Regional Events Fund, there will be something for everyone!

What’s been happening?

Citizen Hame, Dumfries

On the day of the Dumfries ‘Guid Nychburris’ Celebrations, The Stove Network held an event in the centre of Dumfries to discuss with people their thoughts and feelings about what it means to be a ‘Doonhamer’. ‘Doonhamer’ is an old Scots way of referring to someone from Dumfries, and comes from the tradition of people working away in Glasgow and Edinburgh referring to ‘doon hame’ (down home). The idea of what it means to be a Doonhamer is always evolving as life in the town changes, and today Doonhamers are made up of people from many different cultural backgrounds, religious beliefs, and nationalities.

Members of The Stove Network’s team asked people to respond to the question: what makes a Doonhamer? Answers ranged from things like “They are kind to strangers” all the way through to “They like Seagulls”. It was great to see so many New Scots join in the fun, with people who have come to settle in Dumfries from all around the world giving their views about what it means to be a Doonhamer.