East and Southeast Asian heritage month

East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) Heritage Month is a time to honour, celebrate and reflect on the rich and diverse cultures, histories and contributions of East and Southeast Asian communities across the UK.

Lewisham is home to many residents from East and Southeast Asian backgrounds. This September, we will be marking ESEA Heritage Month once again by supporting local events and activities dedicated to East and South East Asian heritage, culture, history and everything in between. It is a chance to celebrate, acknowledge and learn about the incredible ways in which our communities have helped shape the UK.

East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) Heritage Month events

The theme of ESEA Heritage Month this year is 'Reframing resilience'. The theme of reframing resilience is a chance to delve into the experiences and narratives that have shaped the lives and experiences of our diverse communities through generations, thinking about how we reframe silent resilience to reflect on shared strength, resistance, vulnerability and interconnectedness.

• find out more about the ESEA Heritage Month theme

With 2025 marking the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, we especially want to highlight the length and strength of our histories, reflecting on how communities evolve with time.

ESEA Heritage Month 2025 successful projects 

All events are free and suitable for various age groups. Booking recommended. 

• Chinese arts and stories with Ms Carry

Various dates in September at Lewisham Libraries. Join Carry Hornby, a Taiwanese-born artist and Lewisham resident, for a series of free workshops and storytelling sessions celebrating Chinese arts and culture. Suitable for all ages. 

• Bilingual Chinese and English story session 

Friday 6 September, 10.30am–12.30pm at Sydenham Library 

• Chinese paper cutting art workshop 

Friday 20 and Saturday 21 September, 11am–3pm at Forest Hill Library 

• Chinese calligraphy art workshop 

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September, 11am–12pm at Forest Hill Library 

• Discover the Four Treasures of Chinese calligraphy art 

Friday 27 September, 12pm–1pm at Forest Hill Library 

• Kamishibai and paper theatre workshops 

Friday 6, Friday 13 and Wednesday 24 September at Downham Library. Rouge28 Theatre presents three exciting events exploring Japanese paper theatre traditions.  

• Kamishibai storytelling

Friday 6 September, 11.30am–12pm. Enjoy traditional Japanese tales with your family. 

• Paper theatre making workshop

Friday 13 September, 10.30am–12.30pm. Create your own theatre in this hands-on session. 

• Akutagawa: work-in-progress sharing and Q&A 

Wednesday 24 September, 6–7pm. Experience ‘Live Manga', a fusion of puppetry and projection inspired by Japanese literature. Ages 12+.

• Reframing resilience – Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival 

Sunday 28 September, 12pm at Evelyn Community Centre and Deptford Lounge.

Family-friendly workshops and a flagship public celebration at Deptford Lounge, featuring lantern-making, storytelling, dance, music, and traditional games. The festival will showcase Vietnamese culture and sustainability through creative, intergenerational participation.

• Tongues and tapestry – we speak in colour 

Monday 29 September, writing workshop 1-2.30pm and sharing session 3-4.30pm. Goldsmiths CCA, St James' London. SE14 6AD.

Led by British Bangladeshi spoken word artist Yasmin Ali, this event by Blossom Young Mums offers a space for ESEA creatives to explore identity and heritage through writing and performance. Join us for workshops and an open mic celebrating stories of resilience, belonging and cultural pride. Open to all ages and backgrounds.