Exodus Festival (Sunday 2nd August)
Article published: Wednesday, August 5th 2009
Manchester’s diverse art scene is one not to be sniffed at, especially when it reveals gems like the Exodus Festival, a unique celebration of arts and culture from Greater Manchester’s refugee communities.
Exodus is a year round project, administered by Community Arts Northwest, working with Manchester-based refugees and asylum seekers on an array of arts projects. The intention of the project is to take the experiences of refugee artists to the wider public.
Erin McNeany, the festival’s coordinator, described Exodus as an opportunity to “showcase and celebrate the culture of refugee communities and what they bring to Manchester.”
On Sunday these sentiments were resonated by many of the acts themselves. “West African Development”, a traditional dance and drumming group, said the great benefit of the festival was the opportunity it offers for ethnic minorities to let their culture be known to others.
Lucidity, a performer from the Ajah Collective, summed up perfectly what the festival is about: everyone is welcome to come along and celebrate together. “It gives people the chance to hear your music and through that learn the plight of asylum seekers.”
From Women Asylum Seekers Together’s poetry readings and songs, to the workshops on Tai Chi, African and South Indian Dance – via food and craft stalls – the carnival atmosphere certainly suggested that the festival was a fantastic success!
Best of all, Exodus is just one of many free festivals and events in Manchester this summer, celebrating arts, culture and everything this fantastic city has to offer.
For more information on how to get involved with the Exodus project, visit www.can.uk.com/exodus.
Jennie O’Hara
More: Culture, Manchester, Stage
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