Refjúžn Poster

On the occasion of World Refugee Day on June 20, 2020, the Milan Šimečka Foundation is launching an open call for a poster design. The current situation concerning the coronavirus does not permit us to organize our traditional community event called Parade with an Umbrella March. But don't despair! The whole world under one roof is now coming to your home. Along with your creations.

World Refugee Day, which falls on June 20, reminds us that every 108th person in the world has been forced to flee their home due to war or persecution. At a time of pandemic, when countries have closed their borders and people have stopped moving, it is not possible for everyone to stay at home,  practice social distancing or wash their hands regularly. The coronavirus pandemic has isolated us, but it offers us an opportunity to display concern and solidarity with others. The topic of migration and people on the run divides society, and we feel the need to look deeper into this phenomenon and  examine what is behind the fear of the unknown.

With the poster we want to respond to the current situation regarding migration and movement restrictions. Where would you migrate if you could? Is movement possible for everyone equally? What are the limits to our solidarity? Does the pandemic affect everyone equally? Are we even more afraid of the unknown? Do foreigners live in your neighborhood? Is the voice of vulnerable groups audible enough? Where would you go if you had to leave your home? And do you think the host country would welcome you? How do you react to the statements, ‘I’m not a racist, but…’, ‘so take them home’?

Host of the competition

The Milan Šimečka Foundation is a non-profit organization named after a prominent dissident, thinker, philosopher and writer in the former Czechoslovakia. Our three programs – Education, Active Citizenship and Promoting Inclusion – focus on developing an open civil society, defending human and minority rights, improving the situation of disadvantaged groups, educating about diversity and promoting mutual respect. Since 1991, the Foundation has published more than 100 publications and trained several thousand educators, activists, publishers, community leaders and people from disadvantaged groups. In addition, it organizes commemorative events about the Holocaust and November 89. Since 2006, it has organized Slovakia's largest multicultural festival [fjúžn]. More information can be found on the website at: www.nadaciamilanasimecku.sk

The [fjúžn] Festival has been organized by the Milan Šimečka Foundation since 2006 and has gradually become a unique and the largest multigenre and multicultural event focused on migration and foreigners in Slovakia with national and international significance. It goes beyond one form of artistic expression and offers a rich program of concerts, exhibitions, literature, theater, film, workshops, lectures and presentations, discussions, community or children's events, school events and many other activities. More information can be found on the website at: www.fjuzn.sk or contact us at info@fjuzn.sk.