Exeter Respect Festival celebrates Exeter’s diversity
Published: 10 August 2021
Exeter Respect Festival 2021 takes place at the weekend with music, film, food and activities for everyone to enjoy.
This is the 24th anniversary of the first Respect Festival in Exeter, aimed at bringing communities together to celebrate their differences and commonalities. Exeter City Council has supported this year’s event with a grant of £3,000.
This year the vision for 2021 is to commemorate The Covid-19 victims and to thank NHS and Frontline Workers, and to remind ourselves of ‘Environmental Justice’ providing a safe and sustainable environment for our diverse cultures.
Though the festival is usually run as an open air event over two days, Covid-19 has affected its planning and consequently this year’s event is being run at Exeter Phoenix, keeping in mind government guidelines on Covid-19 public safety.
Doors will open to the public from 12noon to 5pm on Saturday 14 August. Outside the building on the left hand side at the Museum’s car park, there will be a range of food and craft stalls.
Inside there will be a range of activities. In the auditorium there will be variety of talented community artists and bands: Bryar Bajalan Poetry; La Taratella Dance Italian Folk Dance; Jan; Kulu; Love from Syria; O’Marleys; Paul Kouatchou; Philippines Community Choir; Real Ish Band; Sabu Muisc; Still Moving Dance Company; Wasim music.
In Studio 1 there will be panel discussions on the following topics: NHS and Community Experiences and Women’s Work Climate Change & Post Covid-19. The talks will be followed by Contemporary Dance Workshops by the Still Moving Dance Company. The stage at the Secret Garden hosted by Sound Tribe will feature talented young people, in addition it will be an open mic opportunity hosted by Midi TV.
In Studio 74 the Film ‘Limbo’ will feature the Journey of Refugees. At the Exeter Central Library there will be an exciting workshop sharing stories from different faiths and from the Muslim Community, hosted by University of Exeter PhD Student Faten Baalousha and her children, sharing stories from Islam.
In the evening there will be more music in the Auditorium with ‘Barefoot Bandit’, ‘Revelation Roots Dub’, and ‘Free’Think’.
Exeter Respect said: “It’s so important to express acceptance in our city of all cultures, and nationalities and the Exeter Respect Festival unites all.
“We are very proud to have such support from our communities who have managed to stand together to keep safe and support each other during and post Covid-19. We still take into considerations the fact that we still need to be vigilant, and ask our audience, participant, and everyone come to the Festival to observe the Guidelines of Covid-19.”
Entrance is free, with a request for donations.
Cllr Amal Ghussain, Lead Councillor for Communities and Culture, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting the Respect Festival which does so much to bring together Exeter’s communities and celebrate the city’s rich and diverse cultures.”
To find out more about any aspect of Exeter Respect, or to get involved, visit the website www.exeter-respect.org, or email: info@exeter-respect.org
The Festival’s team invite everyone to join in with social media and look forward to seeing everyone at Respect 2021. “Let’s Stand up for a healthy planet, healthy environment. All Different All Equal.”