UK 2022 Cultural Partners

It all started with a ship touring the coastline of the British isles – bringing theatrical experiences to people and communities around the UK.

Who’d have thought back in 1992, when we first persuaded a bank to finance the purchase of an old Norwegian ferry to transform it into Europe’s first touring theatre ship, we’d be sailing our way towards becoming one of the UK’s foremost outdoor arts companies?

Nearly 28 years later. and while the theatre ship is no longer with us, our taste for artistic adventure knows no bounds. Today, Walk the Plank’s team of outdoor arts experts collaborate to dream up, create and produce outstanding moments of outdoor theatre and spectacle. Some of them have also led to nice shiny awards appearing on our mantelpiece too.

“Manchester Day is the city’s way of celebrating everything we love about our incredibly diverse city and all its brilliant communities which together help make Manchester the best place in the world to be. We’re honoured to also have Little Amal with us this year, joining families and children as our iconic Manchester Day Parade makes its way through the city, and can’t wait to show her some Manchester love to hold in her heart and take with her on the next leg of her important journey.” – Councillor Pat Karney, Manchester City Council and Chair, Manchester Day

Manchester International Festival commissions, produces and presents new work across the arts at our biennial festival, via our year-round programme and for The Factory, our future home.

“Bradford Council is delighted to welcome Little Amal on World Refugee Day to meet some of our young people of the district as part of Bradford Literature Festival.” – Councillor Abdul Jabar, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and Community Safety

Bradford Literature Festival is an annual festival and year-round cultural outreach programme. Encompassing the best of literature, music, theatre, cultural discussions, lectures and family events, the festival is unique in the country for its diverse and imaginative approach to high quality arts and cultural programming.

We create spaces that are welcoming and inclusive for all. Our representative programmes give a platform to diverse and marginalised voices and stories and create a supportive space for even the most challenging conversations. To make sure everyone can access our work, we have pioneered ‘Ethical Ticketing’ – this means our events are free for people who otherwise would not be able to afford to attend arts and cultural events.

“This year, the people of Leeds have once again opened their hearts and homes to individuals and families fleeing unimaginable persecution and destruction in their homeland. This continues the city’s very proud legacy of compassion for those in need and we hope the visit of Little Amal will act as a symbol of solidarity and tolerance to all displaced people in Leeds as well as an expression of our shared wish for a brighter future.” – Councillor Mary Harland, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Communities

“Cultural diversity is part of the foundation of what makes Leeds the incredible place we know today and we’re immensely proud to be a city which embraces the contribution and stories of those who have travelled here from other nations. Some of those people have faced quite astonishing hardship and suffering on their journey to Leeds and we hope the visit of Little Amal will act as both a celebration of Leeds as a cultural focal point and a powerful message of healing and hope.” – Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Economy, Culture and Education

At Leeds Playhouse, the range of our work is massive; whether you are a beginner, an aspirational artist or a professional, we provide opportunities. Whether you are five or 95, there are ways you can get involved with us – and whether you want to sit and watch a great piece of theatre or take part in the action we can help.

This is what we are about. What makes us proud to be Leeds Playhouse, a key part of the arts in Leeds, West Yorkshire, Leeds City Region, and in touch with the rest of the world.

Our mission is to use the power of theatre to inspire, entertain and nurture positive social change. In our theatres, communities, schools and outside Liverpool – we hope to ignite the imagination and explore what it is to be human.

“Liverpool has always opened its arms to embrace migrants and refugees. As we look forward to sharing our city with Amal to explore, we know the footsteps she takes will be familiar to many of the Syrian, El Salvadorian and Afghani refugee families we have worked with over the years. Arts and culture are powerful ways to create connection and understanding, so our hope is that Amal’s visit will build on the work we’ve been doing and that of our cultural partners, including Museum of Liverpool, Tate Liverpool, Unity and SOLA Arts, serving as a reminder to us all to continue to welcome those who seek sanctuary.” – Mark Da Vanzo, CEO at Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse Theatres

The Museum of Liverpool reflects the city’s global significance through its unique geography, history and culture. Visitors can explore how the port, its people, their creative and sporting history have shaped the city.

The museum opened on 19 July 2011 in a purpose-built landmark building on Liverpool’s famous waterfront.

Our mission is to increase the public’s enjoyment and understanding of British art from the 16th century to the present day and of international modern and contemporary art.

Iconic in style; immense in ambition. Liverpool’s docks dominated global trade in the 19th century, with the Albert Dock at their heart. To this day the Mersey continues to play a central role in the city’s cultural life, with the Dock an integral part of our World Heritage waterfront.

Little Amal visited two English Heritage sites during her June 2022 walk.

At Stonehenge she uncovered the incredible story of one of the world’s most famous places. This must-see monument is a powerful testament to human ingenuity, imagination and creativity, and a visit today offers something for everyone to enjoy.

At Beeston Castle she explored one of the most dramatic ruins in the English landscape. Built by Ranulf, 6th Earl of Chester, in the 1220s, the castle incorporates the banks and ditches of an Iron Age hillfort. Henry III seized the castle in 1237 and it remained in royal ownership until the 16th century. In the Civil War it withstood a long siege in 1644–5, before being surrendered by the Royalists and partially demolished.

We create world class theatre, made in Stratford-upon-Avon and shared around the world.

Birmingham Rep is the only producing theatre in the UK’s Second City. The oldest building-based theatre company in the UK, The Rep has an unparalleled pioneering history and has been at the forefront of theatre in this country for over 100 years. It is a registered charity (number 223660). The Rep’s mission is to create artistically ambitious popular theatre for, by, and with the people of Birmingham and the wider world.

“We are extremely honoured to be producing Little Amal’s first-ever visit to Birmingham’s city centre, marking World Refugee Week. Little Amal is not only an arresting and beautiful moment for the public to be part of but a rousing symbol of human rights that is so relevant in our world right now. We look forward to introducing Amal to the ‘families’ that make up our rich and vibrant city.” – Rachael Thomas, The Rep Executive Director

The Everyman is Gloucestershire’s theatre – and has been serving the county (and beyond) since 1891.

Our main auditorium is an architectural masterpiece designed by Frank Matcham that has inspired generations of performers. The common thread throughout the many years has always been our relationship with our audience – a relationship that we treasure.

The Everyman presents a wide range of productions, including ballet, opera, drama, dance, comedy, music events and our traditional family pantomime, as well as many community projects, education workshops and youth theatre sessions. Whether you are coming to the Everyman for a show, a workshop or even to dine or drink in our café, bar or restaurant, we would like to warmly welcome you and hope you return many times.

“We are honoured to have Amal visit Cheltenham.  The Everyman Theatre has supported Amal and raised awareness of her journey and of displaced children since she left the Turkey Syrian border in 2021.  The Everyman is committed to supporting refugees and asylum seekers in Gloucestershire and is delighted to be working with Cheltenham Borough Council, Visit Cheltenham, Cheltenham Welcomes Refugees, GARAS, Lives of Colour and Cheltenham Festivals to welcome Amal.” – Mark Goucher, CEO Cheltenham Everyman

To foster compassion and cooperation between different communities in Cheltenham, helping local people understand the global refugee crisis and what people experience on their resettlement journey.

To work with GARAS (Gloucestershire Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers), local authorities, and other partners including organisations and businesses, to help refugee communities truly grow and flourish.

GARAS’ purpose is to provide support to asylum seekers, refugees and other migrants.

GARAS opens the door to support those seeking asylum in Gloucestershire, welcoming them when they arrive, advocating for them in their daily struggles, supporting them if they face being sent back and helping them adjust to their long term future if they are recognised as ‘refugees’. We work with those arriving within the asylum process and those being resettled here.

Our clients have fled persecution (including imprisonment, torture and abuse), conflict, famine or hardship in their home country and taken extreme risks to reach a place of safety. All are desperate for security and respect and to rebuild their personal and working lives in peace.

Lives of Colour seeks to elevate the voices of marginalised communities by fostering equity, equality and inclusion working with businesses, statutory agencies and organisation to develop strategic solutions through education, events and training.

We do this using our  ‘G.R.A.D.E.S inclusion strategy’, we attribute an increase in investment, innovation and income using the benefits of diversity and inclusion.

Bringing joy, sparking curiosity, connecting communities, and inspiring change year-round with four world-class Festivals in Jazz, Science, Music and Literature, and charitable programmes for education, community, and talent development.

With programming that features the very best international artists, performers and speakers; unique experiences; and showcases up and coming talent, Cheltenham Festivals is at the centre of the UK’s cultural scene and boasts an enviable international reputation as leaders in our field.

Built in 1766 as a place where the people of Bristol could come together, Bristol Old Vic is the oldest continuously working theatre in the English speaking world.

It was built as a symbol of the pride we have in our city and what it can achieve and remains a place of joy, discovery and adventure to this day.

“We are excited to welcome Little Amal to Bristol to meet the community, to see our beautiful city and to find out more about Bristol’s status as a City of Sanctuary.   Amal travels everywhere with a spirit of curiosity.  By welcoming her to Bristol we will also learn from her, understanding more about our own complicated past and our dream of being a fairer and more welcoming city in the future.” – Tom Morris, former Artistic Director Bristol Old Vic

Welcome to the heart of London’s cultural life.

Glastonbury Festival is the largest greenfield music and performing arts festival in the world and a template for all the festivals that have come after it. The difference is that Glastonbury has all the best aspects of being at a festival in one astonishing bundle.

It’s like going to another country; a thrilling and vibrant cultural meltingpot and inspirational Brigadoon that appears every year or so. Coming to Glastonbury involves a fair amount of travel, and probably a queue to get in but, when you get past these impediments, you enter a huge tented city, a mini-state under canvas. British law still applies, but the rules of society are a bit different, a little bit freer. Everyone is here to have a wild time in their own way.

Over three decades the lifelong friends that are the members of elbow have created one of the most remarkable stories in British contemporary music. Formed in Bury in the 90’s when all the members were together at sixth form college, elbow’s history now encompasses eight studio albums, a long list of awards and a place in the roll call of great British bands.

Citizens of the World Choir is a musical family that celebrates the artistry, heritage and humanity of people seeking sanctuary, and their allies.

We advocate for understanding, dignity and kindness through the transformative impact of music and song.

“We are delighted to be welcoming Amal back to our University. Like Amal, many young people have had a period of displacement and difficulty, with learning online and learning lost. This event is a platform for us to heal through movement with Amal – a moment to express ourselves, a moment to express ourselves, exchange learning and our shared lived experiences, and embody different cultures and communities through music and dance.” – Bahriye Kemal, Migration and Movement Signature Research Theme Co-Lead

Folkestone Fringe curates art, architecture, sound, and performance in Folkestone. We produce a range of annual festivals for the town, with the intention of presenting high-quality work by local and visiting artists. We want our audiences to see, watch, hear, and learn new things. We want our work to connect people to each other and the place we live in. Our programmes are created with our collaborators and delivered by young people developing their future working in the arts.