South Asian Arts-uk: Talent Development Partner 2023
SPOTLIGHT 2023: Shining a light on underrepresented music creators
South Asian Arts-uk (SAA-uk) is a centre of excellence for South Asian classical and contemporary music and dance. For over 25 years this Charity has developed strong programmes in education and performance, supporting artists in the creation of works that engage and reflect diverse global communities in 21st Century Britain.
SPOTLIGHT is their talent development programme, shining a light on underrepresented creators rooted in diverse South Asian music who want to explore new expressions and challenge perceptions. The music creators involved will personally benefit from their expertise, contacts, 25+ years of experience, and the opportunity to connect with a receptive audience that will provide feedback on their work in progress.
One of the music creators involved in SPOTLIGHT 2023 is Baluji Shrivastav. Multi-instrumentalist and composer, Baluji was blinded at just eight months old and over the course of his artistic journey, has been unstoppable in his defiance of stereotypes that have limited the access to artistic possibilities available to blind and visually impaired musicians. In 2008, he established the Baluji Music Foundation, a blind-led art organisation that has given professional opportunities, employment and support to visually impaired musicians and, in 2012 he founded Inner Vision Orchestra, the world’s only professional ensemble of blind musicians.Additionally, they are bringing back the Global Stories commission for another callout to create a musical response to present-day narratives based on a theme chosen by the music creator.