Over three days, visitors were invited to explore and honour South Asian culture through hands-on art inspired by the museum’s South Asian gallery.
Timed to coincide with the national celebration of South Asian Heritage Month (July 18 to August 17), the workshops ran from July 23 to 25, with each day focusing on a different creative theme: henna design, South Asian inspired outfits, and soft block painting rooted in Madhubani art traditions.
She said: “My workshops were themed around the South Asian gallery at Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery.
“The timing worked out very nicely as they fell during South Asian Heritage Month.
“This provided me with ample opportunity to use art as a way to bring people together and celebrate South Asian culture.”
She explained how the workshops were designed to reflect the 2025 theme of South Asian Heritage Month: ‘Roots to Routes’.
The theme invites people to reflect on how migration, heritage, and identity shape their lived experiences and future legacies.
“The sessions brought together different generations of the South Asian diaspora,” she said, “creating space for them to share stories; connect over shared traditions and just have fun making art.”
Each day was centred around a different aspect of South Asian creative heritage.
On day one, participants experimented with henna design, learning traditional patterns and understanding the cultural significance of mehndi across different communities.
Day two invited families to paint South Asian-inspired outfits, bringing together language, clothing, and personal memory into vibrant artistic expressions.
Day three concluded with soft block printing, using bold lines and earthy colours to create striking Madhubani-inspired ink prints.
While many participants shared family stories of migration and cultural tradition, the space also welcomed those from outside the South Asian community.
“It was amazing to see so many non–South Asian participants getting involved too,” said Saima.
“They were curious, open to learning, and had lots of fun trying out the art styles and cultural elements.
“Everyone came together in a spirit of curiosity, appreciation, and community.”
The workshops mirrored the wider aims of South Asian Heritage Month, which was founded in 2020 by barrister Jasvir Singh and aims to amplify stories of South Asian identity in the UK.
Themes such as migration and movement, heritage and tradition, and connection and community were reflected in both the activities and the conversations they sparked.
With vibrant stories and shared laughter echoing through the gallery, it was clear that the workshops were about more than just art; they were about roots, routes, and everything in between.
