Sheffield festival ready to inspire hope with international line-up

Migration Matters Festival - which coincides with UK Refugee Week - will return from June 15 - 20, this time streaming live online to a global audience.

The celebration of sanctuary, migration and solidarity will be shown through music, dance, drama and spoken word, as has been previously.

Sam Holland, Migration Matters festival director, said: “The past few months have been a challenging time for so many, and those who have felt marginalised before this are feeling the impact more than anyone else.

“We are therefore proud and grateful to put together a programme which will inspire hope, entertain and celebrate the importance of migration even at a time when this is on hold.”

For the festival’s fifth year, people beyond Sheffield will be able to join in.

Tchiyiwe Chihana, Migration Matters festival assistant producer, said: “In spite of the challenges posed by the outbreak, we are so excited to be partnering with artists from our region, nationally and also internationally with the potential to reach an audience across Sheffield, the UK and the globe.

“We are hopeful that our festival will be a light of hope and its inclusive nature will be a further reminder that we are all in this together.”

All events will be free ‘to ensure that the festival is as open and accessible as possible in its digital environment’, though donations are encouraged.

Proceeds will be split between two Sheffield charities – South Yorkshire Refugee Law and Justice, which is a charity that provides legal advice for asylum seekers, and Lesbian Asylum Support Sheffield, which is a support group that offers help and advice for LGTBQ women before, during and after detention.

The Migration Matters festival line up for 2020 will include live streamed gigs as well as a variety of online events and interactive workshops.

Members of the refugee community, Koni Music, Sheffield poet laureate Otis Mensah, speakers from the University of Sheffield and the former Lord Mayor of Sheffield - Magid Magid - will all be taking part.For more information, see: www.migrationmattersfestival.co.uk

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