World Refugee Day has been celebrated in Lithuania for several years now, on June 20. This year, organizations with many years of migration experience in Lithuania are joining forces to create a week-long program of events.
Organizations invite you to celebrate the contribution, creativity and perseverance of refugees and asylum seekers on June 13-20 at various events.
According to Aistė Ulubey, the founder and CEO of the arts agency Artscape, which is the official coordinator of Refugee Week in Lithuania – everyone can create and celebrate an open society idea.
“Our society is becoming increasingly diverse, where each of us can contribute authenticity, uniqueness, and creativity. Many people in Lithuania had to leave their native countries due to difficult situations, and their creativity and new perspectives can enrich us. We just need to open up to these possibilities. We invite you to follow the Refugee Week events calendar and celebrate friendship at more than ten events across Lithuania,” says A. Ulubey.
In Lithuania, the Refugee Week events program is being created together with the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania, Order of Malta Relief Organization in Lithuania, Lithuanian Caritas, International Organization for Migration, Refugee Council in Lithuania, Ukreate Hub, Lithuanian Red Cross, Refugee Reception Center, Save the Children, Sienos Group, and other organizations. All events are free of charge.
Opening with art
On Thursday evening, the opening of Refugee Week took place at the MO Museum, inviting visitors to get acquainted with Middle Eastern music through the sounds of the Oud and Kanun instruments. The performance was given by musicians and artists living in Lithuania, Kadim Mazin and Youssef Jmal.
Also, a Joint Exhibition created by participants of the ARTSCAPE mentorship program was presented. During the exhibition, six artists who came to Lithuania from three different countries and are living here showcased individual art pieces created specifically for this exhibition.
Tens of thousands of refugees and asylum seekers live in Lithuania.
Refugee Week will reach its peak on June 20 at 6 PM with the free open-air music festival CULTURAL RHYTHM in Bernardinų Kiemas.
The festival is funded by the European Union.
Refugee Week Lithuania partner: Lithuanian council for culture
Events calendar: www.refugeeweek.lt
Photos: Zura Basheleishvili
June 13, 2024