 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 6/12/2008
Sayeeda Afreen
Community Relations Coordinator, IRC
(206) 623-2105
Sayeeda.Afreen@theirc.org.
WORLD REFUGEE DAY CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTS LOCAL REFUGEE ARTISTS
On Friday June 20th, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) Seattle will host the third
annual Refugee ArtVocacy in celebration of World Refugee Day. Many refugees who arrive
in the Puget Sound area have fled perilous and oppressive conditions in their home countries. The IRC Seattle alone has resettled over 18,000 refugees since opening its offices in 1976 and currently resettles
450 people on average each year.
Refugee ArtVocacy will feature works by individuals from around the world who are now
living in the Puget Sound area, including special performances by the Tibetan Dance Troupe,
the Roosevelt Cambodian Dance Troupe, and Hosana Burundian Choir.
Also performing are two Sudanese hip hop acts: Jay One, solo rapper and an all-girl hip
hop band, entitled Black Hospitality. Visual artists with work on display will include
Saw Kennedy (Myanmar), Fasika Moges (Ethiopia), Lorenzo Jimenez (Guatemala),
Nha Vuu (Vietnam), Janet Saryadegar (Iran) and Igor Kashinskiy, Vitaly Saad,
Poul Costinsky and Petro Markovich (Russia).
Guests can anticipate a wide range of fine arts, traditional crafts, and modern artistic
expressions, reflecting the diversity and value of the cultural contributions that refugees
make in our communities. ArtVocacy takes place on June 20th from 7:00-9:30pm at the
Seattle Center House. Sponsors include ArtTech, 4Culture, Seattle Center and the IRC.
About the IRC
The International Rescue Committee is the world's largest non-profit, non-sectarian
volunteer organization providing ongoing relief, protection and resettlement services to
refugees worldwide who are the victims of oppression and persecution, or uprooted by war, violence and famine. The IRC Seattle regional office opened in 1976 and has resettled approximately 18,000 refugees
from over 30 countries. The Seattle resettlement office resettles some 450 refugees every
year and provides housing, case management, employment assistance and immigration
services. In addition, IRC programs offer technical assistance, naturalization services and advocacy
for refugees throughout King County. More information about the IRC is available at
www.theirc.org/seattle.
Contact: Sayeeda Afreen, Community Relations Coordinator
Sayeeda.Afreen@theIRC.org,
206.62...206.623-2105 ext 109
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