East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month

Every September, 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, and this month is an opportunity to recognise the vital role these communities play in shaping our borough.

This September, we will once again be supporting local events and activities that celebrate East and Southeast Asian heritage, culture and lived experience in all its forms, past, present and future.

The 2026 national theme, Evolving Threads, reflects how ESEA communities continue to weave together stories, practices and solidarities across generations and borders. It invites us to think about connection, continuity and change – how culture is carried, adapted and reimagined over time, and how communities build collective strength through shared experience.

East and Southeast Asian Heritage Month events

ESEA Film Screening x Poetry Reading at Deptford Lounge

In celebration of East and South East Asian (ESEA) Heritage month, Deptford Library Cinema Club is thrilled to be joined by three poets in association with the London Writers Centre - Helen Bowell, yuwei 魚尾 and Erica Hesketh. The poets have each picked an ESEA film to screen, which they will introduce by reading a selection of their poems on the theme of their chosen film.  

• ESEA Film Screening x Poetry Reading by yuwei 魚尾, 10 September, 6-8pm
• ESEA Film Screening x Poetry Reading by Erica Hesketh, 17 September  6-8pm
• Deptford Lounge, SE8 4RJ
• Cost: free

ESEA Short Film Screening and Discussion Group

Watch an exclusive short film screening So Darling, Play Your Violin (2024) created by poet Yuwei 魚尾, before discussing the rest of this month’s screenings with a selection of ESEA snacks!

• 24 September, 6-7pm
• Deptford Lounge, SE8 4RJ
• Cost: free

ESEA Meet Me At x Deptford Library Cinema Club

This month's MMA Screening will be a classic Vietnamese film in celebration of East and South east Asian Heritage Month.

Join us for a monthly film screening specially selected for members of The Albany’s Meet Me At club – a weekly arts and social club for over 65s held at The Albany theatre.

• 25 September, 2-5pm
• Deptford Lounge, SE8 4RJ
• Cost: free

Film, Food and Conversations: Celebrating ESEA Heritage Month

JIUN Collective/ Art Hub Studios

Short film screenings by ESEA artists exploring migration, identity and belonging, followed by a vegetarian ESEA-themed community potluck. 

• 26 September 2026, 3-7pm
• Art Hub Studios, New Cross, SE8 4BL

Celebrate ESEA Heritage Month with Calico Libraries

Calico Projects / Carry Hornby

A month-long programme across four libraries including bilingual Mandarin-English story times, papercutting and bookmark making.

• 5 September, 10.45am-12.15pm: Bookmark marking at Sydenham Library
• 18 September, 11-11.30am: Bilingual story time at Crofton Park Library
• 25 September, 11am-12 noon: Papercutting at Manor House Library
• 26 September, 12 noon-12.30pm: Bilingual story time at Forest Hill Library

Tết Trung Thu 2026: Celebrating 23 Years of Mid-Autumn Festival in Lewisham

Vietnamese Family Partnership

Three family workshops (lantern-making, storytelling, music and crafts) leading to a major Mid-Autumn Festival celebration featuring performances, food, exhibitions and community activities.

• Workshops: 10, 17 and 24 September, 11am-1pm, Evelyn Community Centre, 1 Kingfisher Square, 9 Wotton Road, SE8 5TW
• Flagship Festival Celebration: 27 September 2026, 12-4pm, Deptford Lounge, SE8 4RJ

Everyday Japan: Experience Japanese Culture Through Stories, Fans & Letters

Rouge 28 Theatre / Downham Library

Three free workshops introducing everyday Japanese culture through traditional storytelling (Kamishibai), paper fan decoration and E-Tegami picture postcards.

• 5 September 2026, 10.30-11.30am - Arts and Craft Club, 11.30am-12 noon, Kamishibai – Japanese Paper Theatre Storytelling Session
• 12  September 2026, 10.30am-12.30pm - Uchiwa Making - Japanese Paper Fan Decoration
• 19 September 2026, 10.30am-12.30pm E-Tegami - Japanese Picture Postcards
• Downham Library, 7-9 Moorside Road, BR1 5EP

Evolving Threads: Food, Flowers and Conversations

EasyStepUK

Cultural exchange event exploring ESEA heritage through Chinese dumpling making, Vietnamese spring roll preparation, flower arranging and storytelling.

• 20 September 2026, 12 noon-3pm
• Zhulin Hidden Village, 100-104 Lewisham High St, SE13 5JH

ESEA Heritage Month Grand Finale at Downham Library 

EasyStepUK will be leading a range of family-friendly activities throughout the day, including a Tai Chi session and a spectacular dragon dance performance, which will be the highlights of the event.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to take part in a variety of traditional cultural activities, including Chinese paper-cutting, Chinese calligraphy, Traditional drawing activities and traditional Chinese games.

These activities are suitable for children and families and offer a fun introduction to Chinese culture and traditions.
This special day has been made possible thanks to Loved and Wanted | Libraries Connected

• Free drop-in event. Children must be accompanied by an adult
• Downham Library 7–9 Moorside Road, BR1 5EP

South East Asian Cultural Day at Parkside

Lewisham Local / Parkside Community Centre

Community cultural day featuring traditional costume sharing, cultural games, cooking, dance and cultural learning inspired by Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.

• 30 September, 1.30-5.30pm
• Parkside Community Centre, 1 Copperwood Place, SE10 8GE