Sangam Festival: A Celebration of South Asian Heritage will return to Kirklees this summer after securing funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council National Lottery Project Grants.
The festival, which is run by Huddersfield-based social enterprise Communities Together, bid for funding to present a diverse programme of events and special projects in the run up to and during South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) July 18-August 17 2022. These will include venue-based, outdoor and digital activities celebrating South Asian heritage, arts and culture – from film, music and family events to talks, workshops and oral history projects.
The much-needed investment into the region will help to boost the local economy, engage schools and young people in activities relating to South Asian Heritage, and provide vital new commissions for local freelance practitioners.
It will also promote community cohesion, encouraging participation from a wide demographic, including often overlooked communities.
Qaisar Mahmood, CEO of Communities Together and Radio Sangam, said: “We are grateful to Arts Council England, Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for supporting Sangam Festival for a second year.
“The festival fills a gap in provision, and we look forward to delivering another exciting and innovative programme to celebrate South Asian heritage and culture in Kirklees.”
The festival will also be supported by Communities Together’s sister organisation Radio Sangam (www.radiosangam.co.uk), the most followed South Asian community radio station in the UK, broadcasting 24/7, 365 days a year in Urdu, Punjabi, Sylheti, Arabic, Gujarati and English.
Anyone interested in sponsoring an event or joining the festival team (paid and volunteer roles available) should contact Qaisar Mahmood at: info@sangamfestival.co.uk or call 01484 549947.
Information about the Festival and the programme can be found at: https://sangamfestival.co.uk/
