It’s so exciting to be able to draw together the connections and networks that formed
the Kahaani project. The Create team were on the road with the touring exhibition
from Autumn 2025 to Spring of 2026 sharing 50 lived experience stories of South
Asian community experience from the South West.
It’s been incredible to know that over 7000 people have been accessing the 50
unique stories that we gathered over 6 months and a further 17,000 have enjoyed
the exhibition touring across the south West.
The tour has included Swindon, Wilts, Somerset and Dorset heritage and community
spaces. It’s amazing where work at Create takes you and I never thought I’d be at
Westonbirt Arboretum with the British Archaeological Association bringing South
Asian stories from the Southwest to a very warm audience. They contemplated all
the key themes of Kahaani: home, acceptance, resilience and welcome.
Thank you to everyone who has partnered on this amazing project; to all our
contributors and our amazing young people who made an incredible moving story
out of all of those interviews both in a documentary and a drama called ‘Coconut’.
Watch this space for its launch at Create and festivals over the coming months.
Over 700 young people have already experienced the education resources and
contemplated the inspiration of lived experience shaping identity, civic pride and
hope.
A warm thank you to our funders at National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council
England who made this project possible. Also our wonderful partners at Yeovil Art
Space, Bournemouth Poole & Christchurch Indian Association and Changing Suits in
Swindon, who generously connected us with their communities and contributors.
Find out more about Kahaani HERE and watch this space for further exhibitions in
the future!