Celebrate ESEA Heritage Month in Lewisham
September marks the start of East and South East Asian (ESEA) Heritage Month, providing an opportunity to recognise the impact of ESEA communities across the UK.
ESEA Heritage Month was launched four years ago as part of a national campaign to celebrate and acknowledge the significant ways ESEA communities have influenced the UK. In Lewisham, we’re fortunate to have thriving communities from this region, with Deptford being home to a large population from east and south east Asia.
Lewisham Council is funding cultural events programming awarding £5,000 to local organisations. We are working with local partners Vietnamese Family Partnership and Hidden Keileon, Lewisham-based Voluntary Community Sector organisations who are part of the Lewisham Cultural Partnership. Both organisations will be hosting exciting events during ESEA Heritage Month.
Lewisham is known for its vibrant cultural diversity, and in 2023, it became the first Borough of Sanctuary in the UK, reinforcing our tradition of being a welcoming place for people from all walks of life. Observing ESEA Heritage Month highlights the Council’s continued dedication to celebrating what makes Lewisham unique – our diversity.
Councillor Edison Huynh, Cabinet Member for Culture and Communities, said:
“As a borough with a deep history of diverse communities making a home in Lewisham, we are proud to support East and South East Asian Heritage Month. ESEA communities have been woven into the fabric of the UK for generations, contributing to society while navigating distinct challenges. Deptford has long served as a key area for ESEA settlement, including my own family who were refugees from Vietnam and Cambodia, and we’re honoured to continue recognising their vibrant culture and contributions.
This month is both a chance to reflect on our shared history and to work towards a more inclusive future where ESEA voices are fully represented in all sectors of life.
This year, we’ll celebrate the inaugural ESEA Heritage Month in Lewisham with events at our libraries, alongside collaborations with our partners.”
The ESEA region includes countries such as Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, North Korea, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
What’s happening in Lewisham?
At Broadway Theatre, Catford
7pm on Saturday 7 September
Hidden Keileon x Lewisham Council: A wholesome evening with ESEA performances and stalls
Hidden Keileon, a multidisciplinary art collective, invites you to an exciting evening at the Broadway Theatre, showcasing ESEA talent. Enjoy comedy, music, spoken word, and art stalls as we celebrate ESEA stories and envision a future of justice and freedom. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with artists and the community!
Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival
12pm on Sunday 22 September, The Library at Deptford Lounge
Join us for a fun-packed Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrating ESEA Heritage Month! The Vietnamese Family Partnership and Lewisham Council are hosting a day full of excitement with lion dancing, live music, cultural competitions, and tasty Vietnamese food. It’s a fantastic chance to experience and enjoy Vietnamese culture with the whole community.
In our Libraries
10am on Wednesday 4 September, Forest Hill Community Library
Origami Class is a group of mixed ages, who meet on the first working Wednesday of every month in the Community Room to enjoy a fun, relaxing & peaceful time learning origami techniques with Suzuko. Tea, Coffee & Biscuits available!
6.30pm on Thursday 5 September, The Library at Deptford Lounge
Join us for a celebration of East and Southeast Asian writing with Nina Mingya Powles and Khairani Barokka, who will read from their poetry collections and take questions from the audience. This will be a relaxed and informal evening with books available to buy and borrow.
Reading Group at Catford Library
11am on Friday 6 September, Catford Library
As part of ESEA Heritage Month we will be discussing “The Garden of Evening Mists” by Malaysian novelist Tan Twan Eng.
6.30pm on Thursday 19 September, The Library at Deptford Lounge
Join prize winning author Cecile Pin as she reads from her debut novel Wandering Souls and answers your questions. Cecile Pin is a French-Vietnamese writer based in South-East London. Wandering Souls, her debut novel, was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the Prix Femina Etranger, and shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize in 2023. She is a Somerset Maugham and London Writers Awards winner.
Lilly and the Wave - Creative Arts Family Workshop at London
2pm on Saturday 21 September, The Library at Deptford Lounge
Free creative workshop for children (aged 6+) and their families. Take part in a national community arts project! Be immersed in the audio story of "Lilly and the Wave", the story of a drop of water who dreams of becoming a wave.
Hidden Keileon X Catford Library: An Exploration and Zine Creation Day with ESEA Literature
1.30pm on Saturday 21 September, Catford Library
Libraries are full of books that hold stories of East and Southeast Asian heritages. Some are well known. Many go untold. Celebrating ESEA Heritage Month, join us to discover - and to create a zine together - the hopeful worlds of literature by us all.
10.30am on Saturday 28 September, Downham Library
Special East and South East Asian Heritage Month craft. Arts and crafts for children aged 5+ origami fun!