Dancers, drummers, musicians, Cooks and dress makers from all different ethnic backgrounds are being called on to come forward and get involved in the biggest cultural interchange ever staged in the city.
The North West Migrants Forum will play host to a celebration of culture and diversity, bringing together people from all different walks of life, to honour our differences and embrace them.
It is also a time to mark the first anniversary of Derry establishing itself as a leading light in humanitarianism in taking in refugees.
It was in May of last year that 11 Syrian refugee families arrived in Derry hoping to make it their home, joining other refugees and migrants in the city from places as diverse as Pakistan, Egypt, the Congo, China, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Throughout 2016, around 400 Syrians arrived in Northern Ireland, with the province being heralded as leading the way on refugee resettlement in the UK.
To mark this, the North West Migrants Forum (NWMF) is playing host to a series of workshops that will culminate in the biggest Intercultural interchange in the city.
Participants will be asked to work together and prepare over the course of six weeks for a final event that will be held in the Foyle Arena on April 30, 2017.
It will be a great opportunity for anyone who wants to take part in any of the following events:
- Syrian traditional music and dance,
- A mash up of Irish, Syrian and African dance,
- Traditional music focused on African drums,
- Learn more about Irish and Ulster Scots music,
- Get involved in dress making from a wide range of different cultures,
- Participate in a mash up of Indian and Syrian dancing.
In the six weeks leading up to the event, two workshops will be run: one to teach a group of people about dance and music traditions from different parts of the world, and another to teach a group of people about different intercultural dress-making traditions.
Participation in these workshops is completely free and is being sought from different communities. If you are interested in taking part or facilitating at any of the workshops contact: Orlando De Gregorio at orlando.degregorio@nwmf.org.uk or call 02871 362184 for more information.
The event on April 30, 2017, at Foyle Arena will run from 4pm until 8pm.
Tickets will cost £3 per person or £5 for a family.
The event is being funded by the Big Lottery and the Executive Office.