Horizons Festival returns to showcase amazing cultural contributions of refugees

The festival will take place over two days, on Friday, June 16th, and Saturday, June 17th, offering an immersive experience featuring spoken word, storytelling, music from the global diaspora, artist-led film screenings, visual art, dance performances, and thought-provoking discussions.

Kicking off the festival on Friday, visitors can expect a dynamic showcase of spoken word and captivating storytelling in Theatre 2, accompanied by engaging film screenings at the cinema, promising an evening filled with artistic inspiration and cultural exploration.

Saturday’s events at Horizons will be geared towards families and will offer an array of free, family-friendly creative workshops spanning music, dance, performance, visual art, and storytelling.

With a lineup featuring talented artists from diverse backgrounds hailing from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Kurdistan, Palestine, Syria, Ukraine, and Zimbabwe, attendees will have the opportunity to experience an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary expressions of culture.

More than just a festival, Horizons serves as a platform to unite individuals, fostering connections, and providing an opportunity to learn, support, and stand in solidarity with those who have been forced to leave their homelands and find solace in Manchester.

Through this event, the festival invites participants to appreciate and share the rich traditions and talents that refugees and asylum seekers bring to their adopted city.

Mustafa Alachkar, a Syrian immigrant who arrived in the UK in 2005 and represents Rethink Rebuild Society, eloquently expresses the festival’s ethos: “We can choose to see refugees and asylum seekers as people that make our country and society richer and more beautiful through culture, creativity, and innovation.”

Horizons Festival, a joint effort by Community Arts North West and HOME, promises an unforgettable weekend where audiences can immerse themselves in the transformative power of art and embrace the remarkable contributions of Manchester’s refugee community.

Admission to all festival events is free or based on a pay-what-you-can model, ensuring accessibility for all.

You can get tickets for the Horizons Festival on HOME’s website by clicking here.

Tickets for the Horizons Festival are now available for purchase at HOME’s website

For more information about the festival lineup and schedule, please click here. 

As Manchester prepares to come alive with the sights, sounds, and stories of the world, Horizons Festival 2023 promises an exceptional experience that will inspire, educate, and celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures that have found a vibrant home in this dynamic city.