Refugee Week Festival at Mac

Saturday 20th June

12.30 - 5pm

MAC Birmingham (free Entry)

Cannon Hill Park

Birmingham B12 9QH

Join us for an afternoon of music, presentations, stalls and activities - Live music from around the world in the heart of Birmingham!

Activities for all the family!

Save the date for Celebrating Sanctuary's annual World Music and Arts Festival. Bringing people together to celebrate and experience the culture, arts and stories of refugees and migrant communities through a universal appreciation of music, joy and life.

This year's event will bring music and arts from around the world, showcasing the work of highly acclaimed, UK based refugee and migrant artists.  Information stalls and creative workshops!

This Year's Programme
Hexagon Theatre 12.30 - 5pm

12.30-1.30pm – Refugee Week Launch
Welcome to this year's festival
Presentations
Group performances and spoken word from:
In Her Shoes - are a group of artists who create opportunities and spaces for women and girls to come together, share creative experiences and have fun. They believe in women’s empowerment and personal development.
Writers Without Borders - is a Birmingham-based group of writers from a variety of cultural backgrounds. Some have lived in England for many years and others have arrived in the country quite recently. The group includes professional, semi-professional , new and emerging writers.
Stories of Hope and Home - is a community of people with lived experience of seeking sanctuary who come together to explore and share their stories. They will perform some songs and spoken word pieces linked to their upcoming performance at Birmingham REP in July.

1.30-2pm - Stalls & Workshops

Live Music and Dance

2-2.30pm – Stefan Stefanov - Live Music Performance (Hexagon)
Musician and singer originally hailing from Lom in Bulgaria brings stories of hope, home and songs of nostalgia in the Roma-gypsey language. Through engaging performance and guitar, Stefan shares fantastic songs with his audiences. Having performed with a plethera of talented musicians from different backgrounds and genres, we are delighted to welcome Stefan Stefanov to our programme for the first time.

2.30-3pm - Stalls & Workshops

3-3.40 – Breza - Live Music and Dance – In the Courtyard (Hexagon if wet)
Formed in 2018, Folk Ensemble "Breza" is now over 25 members strong, performing traditional dance and music in classical Slovak costumes with traditional instruments. Under the tutorage of professional dance chorographer Petra Dona, "Breza" have performed nationally at wedding ceremonies, community events, The Commonwealth Festival in 2022 & Birmingham Festival in 2023. Also at Centenary Square and Mac during Refugee Week 2023. Breza perform as a large ensemble and in smaller groups and we are delighted to welcome them back to Refugee Week 2026.

3.40-4pm - Stalls & Workshops

4 – 5pm – Queen Lilas - Live Music Performance (Hexagon)
Lilas was born and raised in Paris to Congolese parents. Her music is positive and from the heart. She is a gifted and accomplished musician, composer and producer who plays piano, guitar, percusssion and more. Lilas was trained by her uncle and highly respected Congolese Zoukous artist, Diblo Dibala, known as “Machine Gun” for his speed and skill on the guitar. She has performed and recorded with him in recent years.

Lilas has performed at venues and festivals around the UK and has recorded and released several albums including “Ntoto” (2023) and TIYA (2025). We are delighted to welcome Lilas back with her band of accomplished musicians, to share her exciting, energetic and fresh music. Guaranteed to get you dancing!

12.30 – 5pm - Mac Foyer
Information stalls and activities

Arts & Crafts Workshops
12.30 – 4.30pm (Free Drop in Workshops throughout the event – no need to book)

Shelanu: Women’s Craft Collective
Courage: Making Medals for Everyday Courage

The theme for Refugee Week this year is Courage, and members of Shelanu will be making Courage Medals! They invite you to join them to make a medal celebrating often-unacknowledged acts of everyday courage. They can be for people who have made a difference in their lives; a family member, teacher, someone in the community or someone they respect in the world.

This activity stemmed from a Craftspace commission by artist Alinah Azadeh called ‘Craft in Common’, as part of their ‘We are Commoners’ touring exhibition. The first theme in the series is, “ Making Medals for Everyday Courage. In this time of crisis we are all trying to be more courageous.”

Margaret Murray – Arts All Over The Place

Adults and older children's activity: “Sometimes we underestimate the little things'
Come along and make an origami heart with a message that inspires us to keep on being courageous in the everyday.

Children's activity: Make a 'Courageous Heart' colourful spinning mobile.

Celebrating Sanctuary is a charity who support refugee and migrant artists and work with refugees and asylum seekers through community projects. We are currently unfunded and are bringing you this event due to the partnership and support of Mac and Near Neighbours. If you would like to support Celebrating Sanctuary or find out more about our work please take a look at our website.

Or follow us on Facebook and Instagram
@celebratingsanctuarybirmingham