KALASETU – BUILDING CULTURAL BRIDGES WITH COMMUNITIES THROUGH ARTS

A borough as diverse as Croydon is symbolised by the plurality of its culture. South Asians form a large population of the borough. As part of the This is Croydon, The Mayor’s London Borough of Culture 2023 celebration, Subrang Arts has undertaken the project ‘Kalasetu’ – Kala means ‘Art’; ‘Setu’ means bridge – building cultural bridges with communities through arts. In collaboration with Kinetika, their Artistic Director Ali Pretty and team of specialist silk artists, Team Subrang worked with pupils from Norbury High Girls School, Croydon.

Pupils researched the cultural expressions like arts, crafts, music, dance, festivals, places / maps of the Indian diaspora in the borough through the lens of UNESCO-recognised intangible heritage of Batik silk painting. This research inspired the design and content for the silks and participants prepared 25 beautiful silk flags and 25 silk scarves that reflect the Indian diaspora. These will be displayed at This is Croydon’s flagship programmes – Croydon Mela – and later at Croydon Carnival and other venues throughout the year.

Subrang commissioned dance choreographer Anusha Subramanium as the choreographer and dance workshop leader to work with students of Norbury High School for Girls. Dancers from her Beeja Dance company too performed with the silk scarves.

An installation of an Indian Queen ‘Mother India’ will be created which will have a spectacular costume recreated by group of women who too learnt the technique of batik silk painting. The women took inspiration from cultural expressions from different regions of India for this costume.

Croydon Mela And Croydon Carnival 2023

Roots and Changes – Gujarati Influences

From April 2021 to August 2021, the Gujarati cultural organisation Subrang Arts in collaboration with Brent Museum and Archives, hosts ‘Roots and Changes – Gujarati Influences’, a multi-dimensional exhibition and events series. This project highlights the influences of the Gujarati diaspora in the UK focussing on the London Borough of Brent.



'Supported by Heritage Lottery Fund'