Sampad South Asian Arts and Heritage celebrates 30th Anniversary
First
highlights announced!
Sampad South Asian Arts and Heritage,
one of the UK’s leading South Asian Arts and Culture organisations, is celebrating
its 30th Anniversary with the launch of a year-long programme of specially
commissioned events, performances and arts partnerships.
Sampad has helped to establish South Asian arts within
mainstream culture in Birmingham, and across the UK, playing a major role in
promoting art and artists of Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi
heritage.
Anniversary highlights include a major, specially
commissioned, international writing competition for women in Birmingham (UK),
Pakistan and Bangladesh. My City My Home (April- March 2021) will
reach out to emerging women writers from all three locations resulting in a
publication of selected works together with live readings, book launches and
celebration events. Funded by Culture
Central (Transforming Narratives) & British Council.
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| Vidya Patel - Dance Hub Residency Photo credit Serendipity Arts Festival 2017 |
Sampad is supporting 4 South Asian dancers
who have been awarded commissioning funds by Dance Hub Birmingham to
undertake a residency which will develop their choreographic practice. Anaya
Bolar, Lakshmi Srinivasan, Sonia Chandaria Tillu and Vidya Patel will each work
with an artist-mentor whom they have not worked with previously, sharing the
work in April 2020. This will create opportunities for them to showcase
this new work. Sampad is an active Dance Hub Birmingham partner.
Part of the 30th anniversary will feature Twelve
(from June 2020), a film project which captures the lives and contribution
of key figures and collectives who have helped to shape the West Midlands.
These change-makers have been influential in a myriad of ways from fighting for
equality for people of colour in the workplace, to the establishment of arts,
heritage and cultural agencies which thrive today. The first films will be released in June
2020. The other films will be released online, together with associated public
programme events, throughout the year.
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| CBSO - Bollywood Hits |
Award-winning singer-songwriter Navin Kundra,
vocalist’s Priti Kaur and Rekha Sawhney and Bhangra vocalist Shin
DCS are amongst the singers featured in The CBSO’s Bollywood Hits which
returns to Symphony Hall this summer (26 June). In association
with Sampad this spectacular gala concert conducted by Richard Davis
will feature music from Rahman himself to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and many more. CBSO Celebrate their 100th
Anniversary this year.
Sampad, in collaboration with Midlands Arts Centre invite
audiences to Sampad Arts Mela (25 July). This festival, across the MAC building, will
feature exciting performances of music, dance, theatre, arts and crafts, and
tasty South Asian street food. A showcase
of the rich and diverse array of South Asian Arts and Culture, it offers a
great opportunity for families and communities to come together for a colourful
day of celebration. The event will continue in the evening with a ticketed
music performance. (further details will be announced).
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| Piali Ray - founder of Sampad Arts from a previous exhibition by Jas Sansi |
Reflecting on 30 years in the city Founder
Piali Ray OBE said “Sampad has evolved as an Arts and
Heritage organisation with a commitment to engage with artists and communities
across all backgrounds and barriers. From multicultural to intercultural we
have seen how our artistic voice has resonated across cities and countries
often flagged as a model of good practice.
At a time when the hurt of fractured society
is challenging many of us, we must build on our friendships, trust and
collective artistic voice developed over the past 30 years. None of this would
be possible, or can be sustained, without the fantastic support we receive from
people. I am immensely grateful to every individual who enabled Sampad and was
a part of this journey. Looking ahead we will continue to deliver on our
commitment to create exciting arts that promises to tell your stories to
inspire our stories.”
One of the main programme highlights will see Birmingham
Royal Ballet who also celebrate their 30th year in the city,
partner with Sampad for a special BRB Residency (29 June-3 July)
which will bring together Bharatanatyam dancer and rehearsal director with
Akram Khan Company Mavin Khoo and Birmingham Royal Ballet first soloist Kit
Holder to share, practice and explore each other’s dance language. The creative week will see them work on new
choreography ahead of a sharing event at the end of the choreo-lab residency.
Later in the year, Sampad will be partnering with
Midlands Arts Centre to present a Sampad at 30 exhibition in
MAC’s People’s Postcode Lottery Community Gallery (September-December 2020),
marking past, present and future. From a small desk and a telephone, back in
1990, Sampad has since worked across Birmingham, nationally and internationally
connecting artists and communities with its mission to break down barriers,
amplify unheard voices and celebrate South Asian arts and heritage. The
exhibition will take visitors on a journey through the growth of a community,
artist and organisation, capturing the essence of Sampad its rich history and
its ambition for the years to come.
The 30th Anniversary programme
starts in April 2020. Further events and
performances will be announced soon. For updates go to www.sampad.org.uk
Sampad acknowledges continued support from
Arts Council England, Birmingham City Council & Heritage Lottery Fund.
YOUTUBE TRAILER - https://youtu.be/OYto-PmDCtg
Website: http://sampad.org.uk/
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