Culture And Memory

Refugee Festival Scotland 2025 – The Heritage Strand

The Refugee Festival Scotland 2025 (RFS25) celebrates and preserves the intangible heritage of New Scots communities, showcasing their cultural narratives, traditions, and contributions to Scotland’s evolving heritage. Key objectives include: Preserving Refugee Contributions: Documenting and celebrating storytelling, music, crafts, and traditions brought by refugee communities. Showcasing Heritage: Signature events, like the RSNO Family Festival and “To Gather” initiative, highlight refugee cultural practices as integral to Scottish culture. Breaking Barriers: Creating welcoming spaces by addressing systemic challenges such as language, isolation, and resource constraints. Empowering Communities: A small grants programme supports refugee-led groups in organising heritage-focused events. Building National Recognition: A multi-location approach connects local refugee stories to Scotland’s inclusive heritage narrative. Securing Heritage Legacies: Digital archives and partnerships will ensure refugee traditions are safeguarded for future generations. RFS25 aims to integrate refugee narratives into Scotland’s heritage, promoting inclusion and celebrating diversity.