The number of refugees worldwide has become a topic of concern and confusion in both places of departure and places of destination. The United Nations Refugee Agency noted in 2018 that 68.5 million individuals ‘have been forcibly displaced worldwide because of persecution, conflict, violence, or human rights violations’ (UNHCR), at least one third of whom are refugees. Many spend years in the massive refugee camps. Others find themselves waiting for resettlement, often without the right to work. Still more make it to a place of safety but then face indefinite detention or detention pending deportation. Whether the detention centre is on Manus Island in the Pacific Ocean or in a facility such as Yarls Wood in the UK, the message of homelessness is similarly cruel.
There’s No Place Like Home: Justice, Migration and the Arts is a mixed-media event exploring the relationship between justice, migration, detention and the arts. The event will be headlined by award-winning writer, poet, performer playwright, artist and broadcaster Lemn Sissay, who will read from his work and, together with actor Anthony Taylor, from the writings of detainee and novelist Behrouz Boochani. Boochani will speak via a live Skype link from Manus Island off the coast of Australia where he is currently being detained indefinitely. The event will take place against the backdrop of an exhibition of images by award-winning photographer Hoda Afshar and in the context of the London premiere of an original composition by Simon Le Boggit.
Tickets are free, but bookable here or by following the QR code below. We ask that waged attendees consider making a donation on the door to The Renewal Programme, a registered charity working closely with the refugee community in Newham and beyond.
There’s No Place Like Home is sponsored by the Lincoln Institute for Advanced Study in collaboration with Community Links and the Centre for Culture and Creativity.