IAACP Marks International Day of Peace with Arts, Heritage and Storytelling in London

London, 28 September 2026 — Artists, poets, writers, filmmakers and cultural leaders came together at the Universal Peace Federation UK headquarters in London on 23 September for an evening exploring how arts, culture and storytelling can contribute to peace and understanding.

Hosted by the International Association of Art and Culture for Peace (IAACP UK), an initiative of the Universal Peace Federation UK (UPF UK), the event marked the United Nations International Day of Peace and reflected this year’s theme, “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.”

The programme was chaired by Dr Sangita Swechcha, Chair of IAACP UK, with Rhoslyn Singh serving as MC for the evening.
Opening the event, Robin Marsh, Secretary General of UPF UK, reflected on the role of arts and culture in bringing people together across national, religious and social differences. An introductory video also highlighted UPF’s wider work in interfaith dialogue, youth development, women’s empowerment and international peacebuilding.

Dr Swechcha introduced the evening’s central theme, emphasising that peace is built not only through institutions and political agreements, but also through relationships, creativity, cultural understanding and human connection.

The programme featured poetry by London-based Nepali poet and journalist Nirvik Jung Rayamajhi, who presented Farewell and The Watch Window, exploring themes of human experience, identity and reflection.

Sushil Prajapati, President of Pasa Puchah Guthi UK, presented “Kumari: Living Heritage, Culture and Tradition,” highlighting Nepal’s Kumari tradition and efforts to preserve and share Newah cultural heritage among younger generations in Britain.

Joining remotely, filmmaker and creative producer Diyodi Devinda Menon presented “Stories That Inspire Understanding,” exploring how documentary and visual storytelling can challenge assumptions, highlight overlooked experiences and build empathy. His presentation also featured the community arts project Recipes of Resilience, which brought people together through food, poetry, storytelling and art.
Writer and founder of Plot Potatoes, Dr Sara Kapadia, reflected on how stories can connect people across cultural and social differences. Margaret Aberdeen, award-winning speaker, author and self-relationship coach, shared reflections on resilience, inner peace and personal transformation through her presentation “Today I Am Alive: From Adversity to Empowerment.”
Dr Swechcha later moderated a collective discussion titled “What Does a Culture of Peace Mean to Us?”, inviting speakers to reflect on how poetry, heritage, storytelling, personal healing and cultural understanding can contribute to more peaceful communities.

Ian Pelham Turner, international television broadcaster and UPF UK Patron, also delivered a special address on the role of media and culture in promoting peace and global understanding, highlighting the responsibility of communication in shaping perceptions and encouraging dialogue.
The evening concluded with a shared message that peace must be practised in everyday life — through the words people use, the stories they tell, the cultures they respect and the relationships they build.

The IAACP UK gathering demonstrated that investing in peace also means investing in creativity, cultural understanding, dialogue and human connection.