Migration Matters FestivalCelebrating Sanctuary in the Steel City Since 2016
The Festival
Sheffield has always been the Steel City, the place of Hendo’s, hills, Pulp, chip butties, industry, grit, soul and strength.
But more significantly, the city has a proud record of welcoming new people from the far reaches of the world. It’s a city which has opened its doors, and most importantly become a place of sanctuary for those people most in need. It’s this spirit that saw Sheffield become established as the first City of Sanctuary.
Every third week in June during what is known nationally as Refugee Week, Migration Matters Festival, ‘Britain’s largest festival about Sanctuary and refugees in the country’ (The New Internationalist, 2017) returns to Sheffield in a festival that creates a platform to champion the voices of people who are so often muted, pigeon-holed into labels and rarely genuinely offered a chance to shape the cultural and artistic landscape of the cities they live in.
Our Vision
From Sheffield to the rest of the world we want to bring COMMUNITIES TOGETHER THROUGH Music, ART, PERFORMANCE, food and CELEBRATION.
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The festival’s central aim is to bring together all the people of the city, all Sheffielders to recognise each other, and to see people not for the labels that divide us, but for the unique talents and skills that make us who we are.
For 10 incredible years the festival has programmed everything from internationally renowned artists, award winning companies, spectacular dance troupes and powerful community celebrations with a strong emphasis on platforming refugees and people who have experienced displacement, detention or the UK’s inhumane asylum system.
This is in addition to the events where people have broken bread together at Open Iftars, played football in intercultural tournaments, made puppets, zines, shirts, learned to vogue chi, tell stories, dance and find lasting friendships.
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The festival has also attracted a number of renowned and internationally respected artists including:
Amadou & Mariam, Roger Robinson, Sauti Sol, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Lemn Sissay, Les Amazones D’Afrique, Lowkey, Jazz Supernova, Ify Adenuga, Suhaiymah Manzoor Khan, Nyaruach, Benjamin Zephaniah and The Revolutionary Minds, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Inua Ellams, Nikesh Shukla and Moonlight Benjamin.
Special mention to those artists no longer with us Amadou Bagayoko and Benjamin Zephaniah.
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The festival’s trustees have been essential to the growth and journey of Migration Matters Festival for the last few years and without them would not have realised such a soulful and inclusive programme.
The trustees are responsible for helping decide the programme, building links with the community, raising the profile of the festival, ensuring the festival is accessible and supportive of all groups and nurturing vital partnerships that help improve the festival among many other duties.
Board of Directors
Chair Ishah Jawaid / Deputy Chair John Rwothomack / Sara Hill
Our Team
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John RwothomacK
Festival Director
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Sam Holland
Producer
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Leonie sloots
Project Manager
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Emilia Moniszko
Digital Engagement Director
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Ellen Beardmore
Marketing & Comms Manager
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Jack Howe
Music Production Manager
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Tom Robbins
Production Manager
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Livia Barreira
Audience Development Manager
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Susan Morley
Volunteer Coordinator
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Diyo Bopengo
Community Ambassador
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Liliia Molodetska
Community Ambassador
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Zani Sarseifi
Community Ambassador
"Migration Matters has set the precedent for Sheffield’s diverse and inclusive creative scene; adapting and affording the community a space in which they can thrive."
(Evie Muir, Corridor 8, 2020)
GET IN TOUCh
We have opportunities to volunteer, join the festival team, apply for some of our performance or community commissions, or simply supporting and enjoying the many events that celebrate sanctuary in the Steel City.
Whatever you’d like to share, we’d love to hear from you!