Refugee Month celebrated throughout Wythenshawe

Theatre, literature, music and art from around the world will be celebrated in Wythenshawe throughout June, as the city hosts Refugee Month 2010.

Refugee Month, organised by Manchester City Council, which started this week, will see a whole host of activities taking place in and around Manchester, from poetry readings and music festivals to arts and crafts.

The month-long programme of events has been launched to help unite communities, and encourage understanding and appreciation of the world-wide influences that give vibrancy and flavour to Manchester's neighbourhoods.

The events running in Wythenshawe - including at Forum Library and Royal Oak Community centre in Brookcot Road are free and are designed to offer an opportunity to meet people from all Manchester's diverse communities and celebrate the city's proud tradition of offering safety, support and sanctuary.

Other events in the city centre lined up over the next four weeks include workshops, theatre productions, exhibitions, a football tournament and the spectacular Exodus Festival on Sunday 18 July 2010 in Manchester Town Hall and Albert Square, which offers a unique collaboration of arts and culture, music, dance, food and children's activities.

Councillor Glynn Evans, executive member for adult services at Manchester City Council said: "We are so fortunate in Manchester to enjoy such a rich cultural diversity. Refugee Month encourages us to think about this and why people have sought asylum in Manchester and their often distressing stories.

We hope that people will join us in celebrating Refugee Month and acknowledge the many positive contributions that people who have sought refuge in our city make to our everyday lives."