North East festival celebrates the diverse languages and cultures of the region

Newcastle City Council, International Newcastle, the Association for Language Learning and Durham County Council develop and co-ordinate the annual festival which invites schools, groups and families to engage young people in a wide range of free language and culture sessions, games and creative activities. 

Bookings for live events and pre-recorded resources are open now.

There are also three BIG festival projects which launched in January 2023 and encourage large scale participation. 7-18 year olds in schools and communities across our region can take part in these  until the end of March 2023.

Just One World is a song specially written for this year’s Festival by Music Partnership North’s Gareth Miller, and children and young people from schools and groups across the North East are invited to sing, sign, play and perform the song and film their versions, in as many languages as possible. The song celebrates how we stand together, united and celebrating the richness in diversity and caring for our world.  Videos and translations of the song are available in 17 languages.  A video compilation of the performances will be produced and shared.

Music Services and Music Education Hubs across the region, where possible, will support schools and groups to engage in this exciting virtual performance of a song which encompasses the spirit of the Festival, of togetherness and celebrating diverse language and cultural communities.

Mother Tongue Other Tongue is a celebration of young people’s poetic writing reflecting different languages they speak as a first language or at home, or that they are learning. An ebook will share a selection of children’s writing.

Where can languages take you? Children are invited to submit a poster which shows how language learning can unlock doors and support their future employability and wellbeing. Pupils may choose to focus on careers, travel, access to global cultures, community cohesion or the range of soft skills which are acquired when you learn another language. The poster should be bright, contain a clear message and use language other than English.

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet Member for economy and partnerships, said: “This festival is a brilliant way to introduce young people to the role languages can play in the workplace. Learning a new language greatly improves people’s understanding of different cultures and opens up so many employment opportunities in a number of roles, including those with exciting travel prospects.

“Of course, learning another language can also help to improve your memory and your confidence and it is great fun so I do hope people enjoy everything the festival offers.” 

Cllr Sylvia Copley, Cabinet Member, a Growing City, Newcastle City Council said: “The festival of languages is a fantastic way to teach children about the diversity of our local area and bring groups from across the North East together. I would encourage all organisations who work with our children and young people to sign up to these great activities and I look forward to seeing all the performances of this year’s festival song.”

Festival co-ordinator, Declan Baharini, Director of International Newcastle said:  “Our 2021 and 2022 Festivals engaged a total of over 30,000 children and young people and 681 schools and we hope even more will take up the opportunities this year.  There are so many benefits, with children and young people being inspired to learn languages, find out about other cultures and share their own languages and cultures.  We hope to help broaden perspectives, promote understanding and help build skills and opportunities for future careers in an increasingly globalised world.”

You can find out more and register to take part in any of these activities via the festival website Express Yourself – Festival of Languages North East (expressyourselfne.com)