Next 20th of june, the World Refugee Day, Manresa City Council and the Museu de Manresa are organizing the event “Refugees yesterday and today” which includes the opening of the exhibition “Refugees: the other side of the Civil War in Manresa” and the presentation of the book “We had to leave” by Laia de Ahumada.
Manresa commemorates World Refugee Day, which is celebrated on June 20, an event to remember both those who lived this experience in the past and those who live it today. From 6 p.m., in the museum’s sales del claustre, the event “Refugees yesterday and today” will begin, where the exhibition “Refugees: the other side of the Civil War in Manresa” and the book “We had to leave”, by Laia de Ahumada, will be presented. The event will finalize with the testimony of two people who will explain their experiences as refugees.
The exhibition “Refugees: the other side of the Civil War in Manresa” highlights the situation of refugees in our country during the war, and explains through art pieces, such as the poster made by Manresa artist Anselm Corrons in 1936 to ask for shelter for the children of militiamen fighting at the front. It also includes display cases with documentation such as ration cards, refugee reception cards and news clippings from the Bages Archive. The exhibition, however, will also offer a contemporary view of refugees and conflicts based on different artistic pieces to invite thinking.
The project is part of Memòria en Xarxa proposal, promoted by Local Network Museums of the Barcelona Provincial Council, coordinated by the Cultural Heritage Office and have the collaboration of the Manresa Memory and History Association. The exhibition can be visited from June 20 to September 29, from Tuesday to Saturday, from 6 to 8 p.m., in the sales del claustre of the Museu de Manresa.
Listen to the witnesses
During the “Refugees yesterday and today” event, we will present the book “We had to leave” by Laia de Ahumada, which includes the testimony of six young migrants who explain the journey they have lived since they left their country until today. Then, you will be able to hear the voice of witnesses of international refuge who will explain their experience. The event will feature a line-up of relief organizations that currently offer services to refugees in Manresa, such as Red Cross, APIP ACAM, Tomàs Canet Foundation and Santa Clara Convent Foundation. Finally, the event will have an artistic closing by Txema Rico.
The commemoration of World Refugee Day has been organized by Manresa City Council, through the Cooperation and Citizenship and Culture departments, and the Museu de Manresa.
