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City festival celebrates refugees' positive impact

Marcus Boothe
BBC News, Bristol
Jenny Foster speaking to Kevin Philemon on BBC Radio Bristol.

A cultural festival which celebrates the positive impact made by migrants and refugees is returning to Bristol.

The International Cultural Festival will include art, music, shared food and dance from more than 30 countries.

The festival aims to provide a platform for entrepreneurs and artists from different ethnicities.

"This Festival embraces culture diversity, inclusion and cements a very strong community cohesion. It was a fantastic day, filled with flavour, ambience and oneness," said event organiser David Dravie-John.

Shamphat Three women raising their hands in a line wearing a dress. There are women behind them in a circle raising their hand. Shamphat
The festival will include free dance lessons from professionals

The event will include Flamenco dancers, Latin American Dance, Chinese martial arts display and songs from St Paul's based Solidarity in Sound Choir.

Visitors will have the opportunity to try new street and savoury cuisine from around the globe with offerings from Mexico, Peru, Kenya, Sweden and Pakistan, Japan and China.

Last year 29 cultural groups shared food, art and music with more than 900 visitors from across the city, the organisers aim to attract even more this year.

Visitors can get involved in free workshops in Polish paper craft, African Drumming and a healing sound workshop.

Shamphat A woman in a white top with glasses is teaching a boy in a blue top Chinese calligraphy. They are both using a brush and writing vertically from top to bottom on red card Shamphat
The festival is on Saturday 14 June at Sparks in Broadmead

Jenny Foster, Co Director of Sparks reflected on last year's success said: "We were delighted to bring together Bristol's communities to share their culture and talents with our visitors.

"Sparks aims to inspire climate and social action and reduce inequalities, so the International Cultural Festival was a real showcase for these aims."

This event is part of Bristol Refugee Festival and is supported by the National Lottery, Broadmead BID, African Voices Forum.

The event takes place on Saturday 14 June.

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