Wandsworth Council celebrates South Asian Heritage Month from 18 July to 17 August 2023 with a programme of community-focused, cultural, arts and heritage-based activities and events.

In February 2023, the Arts & Culture Service launched a new fund for artists and cultural organisations to develop a local South Asian Heritage Month programme for the summer. The call-out was for project ideas that would encourage residents of South Asian heritage to engage in cultural activity that would be meaningful and relevant to them, as well as allow the wider community to better understand the histories of fellow residents, colleagues and students making a positive difference in shaping Wandsworth, and be inspired by them. Artists of South Asian heritage and/or South Asian-led organisations were particularly encouraged to apply, as part of a wider invitation to contribute to the cultural agenda of the borough.

“Wandsworth Council is delighted to support this programme of activities and events as part of South Asian Heritage Month, celebrating South Asian history, culture and heritage. We will be recognising the rich contribution that people of South Asian heritage have made in shaping our borough and sharing the stories and experiences of people of South Asian heritage who live, work or study in Wandsworth.” says Councillor Sana Jafri, Wandsworth Council’s Deputy Mayor and Equalities Champion.

Four projects were selected, each receiving up to £2,000 to develop and deliver their ideas for the South Asian Heritage Month 2023.

Beginning in May, Age UK Wandsworth have been running a series of nine weekly workshops on painting, drawing, framing and curation with South Asian elders at Gwynneth Morgan Day Centre on St John’s Hill and at the Roehampton Community Shed. The workshops will culminate in a public exhibition at Roehampton Community Shed throughout South Asian Heritage Month (18 July – 17 August).