Exeter Respect Festival 2022
Belmont Park, Sat 11 and Sun 12 June 2022
25th Anniversary

Exeter Respect Festival 2022 is dedicated to Environment Justice.
Environmental justice is not just about climate change, it’s also about the biodiversity that we are all part of. Only together we make justice. Only together we can defeat prejudice, discrimination and racism. Unity is our power for peace and harmony.

The festival continues to be alcohol free, but this year Nova Bar brings non-alcoholic cocktails for everyone’s enjoyment. There’s the opportunity for visitors to sample the wealth of content of stalls providing everything from global food to fine clothing and handmade crafts, plus information about local communities and organisations delivered with a very genuine smile, alongside outdoor processions and activities for everyone of all ages.

Due to the present economic climate, to sustain the festival there’s an entrance fee of £2 for each day, under 16s are free.

The Henry Girls

The Henry Girls are sisters Karen, Lorna and Joleen McLaughlin from the most Northerly part of Co. Donegal. The trio formed as a professional music group in 2001 and have recorded 6 studio albums, a couple of EPs and a live album of music by The Boswell Sisters of New Orleans.
Infused with the rich cultural heritage of their native Donegal but with a transatlantic flavour their music has been described as ʻfull bodied and powerfully dynamicʼ. They have successfully learned to interweave their traditional roots with contemporary elements, earning them both commercial success and spectacular critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Henry Girls have played at many festivals all over Europe and beyond and they regularly tour in countries like Germany, Holland, Austria, UK, Ireland and USA and are looking forward to headlining Exeter Respect In The Park on Saturday 11 June.

Click here to visit The Henry Girls website

DEVON AFROBEAT COLLECTIVE

Formed in March 2018, a dozen or so musicians got together in South Devon to form a band to create wall to wall danceable grooves.

With the fabulous voice of Jaz Gayle, two backing singers, and a five-piece horn section, Devon Afrobeat Collective are a 14-piece Afrobeat band that includes three great singers and a five-piece horn section. The Collective played a sell out gig at Ashburton Arts in September 2021, and have recently appeared at Exeter Street Arts and Something Wild Festival.

Click here to visit The Devon Afrobeat Collective website

Exeter Respect is the city’s annual celebration of diversity where we use the performing and creative arts to engage the wider community in saying no to racism and all forms of prejudice. The Respect ethos is a simple one: racism and prejudice often spring from fear, and fear is often based on ignorance, so let’s overcome ignorance by getting to know one another and sharing not shunning our cultures. One of the best ways to get to know someone is to enjoy yourself with them, hence our celebratory event and adoption of the old Commission for Racial Equality slogan:

All Different, All Equal!

The first Exeter Respect festival took place in 1997 and there has been a celebration virtually every year since then. From 2003 to 2008 Exeter Respect’s biggest event was at Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre, but from 2009 to the present day our focus has been a giant two day festival in Belmont Park, with a footfall of around 20,000 people every year.

After returning to the Exeter Phoenix in 2021 Exeter Respect returns to Belmont Park for 2022, we look forward to seeing you there.