One Festival
Three Cities
Ten Days
Join us on the JOURNEY

Journeys Festival International is an arts festival taking place in Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth. For the first time our annual festival will deliver in all three cities at the same time from 15 - 24 October.

You can see the full festival guide here and read or download the programme below.

The festival curates, presents and commissions a varied programme of work created by artists exploring the refugee experience and global cultures through artistic and creative encounters.

See the festival programme for 2021 below, the full festival guide here or click your city for regional listings in Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth.

Where There is Light

by Squidsoup

Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth

Where There is Light is an immersive sound and light installation sharing the voices and stories of sanctuary-seeking communities from across the UK.

Wonderland

by Mohammad Barrangi

Leicester and Portsmouth

Wonderland is an exhibition of new work by internationally renowned artist Mohammad Barrangi.

Look Up

by Various Artists

Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth

Look Up is a series of new visual artworks displayed in public locations across Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth.

Journeys into Film

by Various Artists

Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth

A rousing and reflective programme of short films made by filmmakers with sanctuary-seeking backgrounds.

Tale of Tresses

by Maral Mamaghanizadeh

Leicester and Portsmouth

Tale of Tresses is a new film by artist Maral Mamaghanizadeh, exploring the stories of female migrants and refugees through dance, jewellery and costume.

Zarafa (PG Film Screening)

by Rémi Bezançon and Jean-Christophe Lie

Leicester

After escaping the clutches of a slave trader, a bold ten-year-old Sudanese boy befriends a young giraffe and a kind Bedouin, who takes them on a splendid journey via a hot-air balloon.

Halabja: In the Golden Days

by Gulan

Portsmouth

'Halabja: In the Golden Days' is an exhibition celebrating the rich history and culture of Halabja in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Your City Is A World Of Its Own

by Thomas Buckley

Online

Your City Is A World Of Its Own is an online space showcasing creative work by young people.

Bloodland Embrace

by Majid Adin and Kalico Jack

Leicester and Manchester

Bloodland Embrace, an exciting new animation and projection piece, features original artwork by Majid Adin and international collective Kalico Jack.

Reckoning

by Akeim Toussaint Buck

Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth

Reckoning blends contemporary dance, spoken word and digital animation.

Sounds of Sanctuary

by Momtaza Mehri and Addictive TV

Cancelled

Sounds of Sanctuary is a musical story sharing the journeys that the musicians experienced before making Europe their home.

Global Kitchen

by Local Participants

Portsmouth

For the first time, our volunteer chefs take their favourite recipes and head to professional kitchens to prepare a feast.

Graffiti Art and Protest in Iran

by Parham Ghalamdar and Steven Lake

Leicester and Portsmouth

Take a virtual reality tour of a water tunnel in Iran that became a canvas for graffiti artists and a focal point for political and social protest.

Tale of Tresses (Exhibition)

by Maral Mamaghanizadeh

Portsmouth

The exhibition features contemporary percussive jewellery featured in the accompanying film.

Textile Journeys through Portsmouth

by Splodge Designs and Local Participants

Portsmouth

Exhibiting a glorious carnival costume created by local participants, alongside Where There is Light.

Support us on the Journey

by ArtReach

Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth

Find out how to follow us, support us and sign up to our festival news here.

One Festival Three Cities Ten Days Join us on the JOURNEY

Where There is Light

by Squidsoup

Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth

Where There is Light is an immersive sound and light installation sharing the voices and stories of sanctuary-seeking communities from across the UK.

Wonderland

by Mohammad Barrangi

Leicester and Portsmouth

Wonderland is an exhibition of new work by internationally renowned artist Mohammad Barrangi.

Look Up

by Various Artists

Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth

Look Up is a series of new visual artworks displayed in public locations across Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth.

Journeys into Film

by Various Artists

Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth

A rousing and reflective programme of short films made by filmmakers with sanctuary-seeking backgrounds.

Tale of Tresses

by Maral Mamaghanizadeh

Leicester and Portsmouth

Tale of Tresses is a new film by artist Maral Mamaghanizadeh, exploring the stories of female migrants and refugees through dance, jewellery and costume.

Zarafa (PG Film Screening)

by Rémi Bezançon and Jean-Christophe Lie

Leicester

After escaping the clutches of a slave trader, a bold ten-year-old Sudanese boy befriends a young giraffe and a kind Bedouin, who takes them on a splendid journey via a hot-air balloon.

Halabja: In the Golden Days

by Gulan

Portsmouth

'Halabja: In the Golden Days' is an exhibition celebrating the rich history and culture of Halabja in Iraqi Kurdistan.

Your City Is A World Of Its Own

by Thomas Buckley

Online

Your City Is A World Of Its Own is an online space showcasing creative work by young people.

Bloodland Embrace

by Majid Adin and Kalico Jack

Leicester and Manchester

Bloodland Embrace, an exciting new animation and projection piece, features original artwork by Majid Adin and international collective Kalico Jack.

Reckoning

by Akeim Toussaint Buck

Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth

Reckoning blends contemporary dance, spoken word and digital animation.

Sounds of Sanctuary

by Momtaza Mehri and Addictive TV

Cancelled

Sounds of Sanctuary is a musical story sharing the journeys that the musicians experienced before making Europe their home.

Global Kitchen

by Local Participants

Portsmouth

For the first time, our volunteer chefs take their favourite recipes and head to professional kitchens to prepare a feast.

Graffiti Art and Protest in Iran

by Parham Ghalamdar and Steven Lake

Leicester and Portsmouth

Take a virtual reality tour of a water tunnel in Iran that became a canvas for graffiti artists and a focal point for political and social protest.

Tale of Tresses (Exhibition)

by Maral Mamaghanizadeh

Portsmouth

The exhibition features contemporary percussive jewellery featured in the accompanying film.

Textile Journeys through Portsmouth

by Splodge Designs and Local Participants

Portsmouth

Exhibiting a glorious carnival costume created by local participants, alongside Where There is Light.

Support us on the Journey

by ArtReach

Leicester, Manchester and Portsmouth

Find out how to follow us, support us and sign up to our festival news here.

One Festival
Three Cities
Ten Days
Join us on the JOURNEY