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Saminah

@southasiancreative

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Freelance Cultural Consultant •Audience Dev. Producer • Arts • Media • Communities | BBC |ITV| CH4 | CH5.|Voiceovers |Project Manager Exec.Facilitator

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Had to get this selfie ....Today was another reminder of why representation matters and the work I do.

We had a Manchester City Council Partnership Delivery Meeting, working together on the Cultural Strategy and developing the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Strategy.

There is still work to do. But being part of these conversations and seeing ideas move towards action reminds me that change is possible & a real hopeful shift in the GM landscape.

Grateful to Sarah., Policy & Programmes Manager & Sam a filmmaker & advocate for young people. Epic colleagues.

Be part of the change & as a reminder we have a call out for young oeople to be part of the cultural consortium.

#edi #inclusive #strategy #southasian #manchestercitycouncil by @southasiancreative

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a month ago

Churiyan -bracelets These were gifted to me recently from a beautiful friend. [Thankyou x]

As I wore them one by one , I looked closely at every intricate detail, made me think about the hands, skill, patience and generations of knowledge behind something so seemingly delicate. Made me appreciate the efforts.

Every design, every colour, every tiny detail carries a story. These aren’t simply bracelets or accessories. They are pieces of South Asian craftsmanship, shaped by traditions that have been passed down through generations. Behind their beauty are artisans craftspeople whose expertise has often been inherited through families, perfected over decades and sustained through communities that have kept these traditions alive despite changing times.

Each bangle is the result of countless hours of work shaping, engraving, painting, setting stones, polishing and creating intricate patterns by hand. The artistry is extraordinary, yet the people behind it are so often unseen. To wear churiyaan is not only to celebrate culture, but also to honour the artisans whose labour, creativity and dedication preserve these traditions for future generations.

We live in a world where so much is mass-produced and cultural traditions can easily be reduced to trends or aesthetics. But there is power in remembering that our heritage is not just something to admire it is something to value, protect and carry forward.

The sound of them moving on your wrists can take you straight back to home, to family, to women before us who wore them with pride.

Wear the tradition. Honour the artisans and remember the hands behind the craft. And never let the beauty of our heritage become disconnected from the people, stories and labour that created it.

#southasianheritage #bracelets #churiyan #culture by @southasiancreative

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a month ago

The GM Cultural Consortium Steering Group is recruiting!

Are you 16–26 year old creative and based in Greater Manchester? Great opportunity for you to be part of this independant steering group.
Excellent mentoring opportunities and connections for you too.
Pleases share with your networks. by @southasiancreative

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a month ago

Recently had the pleasure of working for @artscouncilengland.

I can’t quite share details but met and conected with amazing grassroots initiatives who are delivering excellent work for diverse audiences in particular South Asian.

If you want to find out more about developing your practice as a creative visit :

https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/

#southasianart #artists by @southasiancreative

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a month ago

I genuinely didn’t know what to expect… but WOW!

I went to see this absolutely brilliant production of Disney’s High School Musical and it completely exceeded my expectations!

The stage is transformed into an immersive basketball court and if you get the chance book your seat on the stage! It takes the whole experience to another level.
With :

Jason Donovan as Coach Bolton

Dates : WED 9TH SEPTEMBER 2PM TODAY
WED 16th September 2PM ONLY. [MATINEE]

TICKET:£10

CODE : HSM10

Up to 4 tickets for just £10 each!

Click the link below first, then enter the code HSM10 when prompted.

🔗 https://booking.thelowry.com/en/specialoffer/wtxqmlghgroyc

CODE: HSM10 by @southasiancreative

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a month ago

From Manchester to Mecca & Madina

I had planned to go on holiday somewhere in Europe… but Allah SWT had a much greater plan for me. He didn’t just change my destination He invited me to the most beautiful place my heart could ever long for.

To perform Umrah

The experience was simply spirtuality stunning overwhelming & euphoric. There are moments you can’t put into words only feel. Standing in front of the Kabaa sharif praying in the Haram and walking through the blessed streets of Madina… it felt like my soul had found where it belonged.

I went with nothing but I came back with everything.

A heart full of peace.
A soul full of gratitude.
Tears I’ll never forget.
Memories I’ll carry forever.
And a stronger connection with Allah SWT.

Sometimes Allah changes your plans because He has something far more beautiful written for you.

Alhamdulillah for everything .

All praises to the Lord of the worlds

May Allah invite us all back again and again. Ameen.

#Umrah #Mecca #Madina by @southasiancreative

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2 months ago

Today was all about connection, creativity and community..

Building engagement and partnerships with Emily @homemcr & Nadia @longsightartspace followed by an excellent exhibition in the community gallery space. It was inspiring to see such incredible talent behind the artwork.

A wonderful moment celebrating culture, creativity and the diverse GM community.

Looking forward to more collaborations and opportunities to bring people together. by @southasiancreative

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3 months ago

It was an absolute pleasure and privilege to be invited to the first South Asian Heritage Month celebration at @tamesidecouncil

For me, this wasn't just another event it was deeply personal.

The journey began back in 2019, at a Pre-Partition event that I was commissioned to produce, where the idea of creating a month dedicated to celebrating and recognising South Asian heritage was first born. To stand here years later and witness it grow into a national celebration is both humbling and inspiring. It is a reminder that ideas rooted in purpose can create lasting change.

During my talk, I shared that celebrating our heritage cannot be limited to one month or cultural events alone. The South Asian narrative must also be present in boardrooms, leadership positions, policy-making, strategic design and funding decisions.

Authentic South Asian voices deserve not only to be heard, but to help shape the spaces where decisions are made.

Identity is not something we leave at the door. Our heritage, our lived experiences and our stories are our strength. True belonging happens when we don't have to shrink or change who we are to be accepted.

So, be unapologetically yourself. Be proud of your South Asian heritage. Your identity matters. Your voice matters. And you belong.

A heartfelt thank you to Roxanna, Dil, Lyndsey & everyone at Tameside Council for creating such an important space to celebrate and bring staff , councillors & the Mayor in one room to discuss South Aisan Heritage .

#SouthAsianHeritageMonth #Identity #Belonging #RepresentationMatters #Leadership Inclusion SouthAsianVoices Community Authenticity TamesideCouncil by @southasiancreative

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3 months ago

Excellent consultation session with Greater Manchester Transport on public safety across the Bee Network.

It was valuable to hear shared voices, experiences and ideas from communities helping us better understand the challenges and opportunities around creating safer, more inclusive journeys for everyone.

These conversations are just the beginning. Together, we're unpicking the next steps.

Thank you to everyone who contributed their insights and perspectives and using this platform. by @southasiancreative

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3 months ago

Pride in Place Consultation Gorton 3 out of 3 Complete!

Despite the soaring temperatures, we @longsightartspace successfully completed our third and final Pride in Place consultation in Gorton today.

It’s been fantastic to see such strong engagement across all three sessions with residents taking the time to share their thoughts, ideas and priorities for the future of the area.

Listening to the community is at the heart of this process and every conversation helps ensure future investment reflects the needs and aspirations of the people who live here.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and contributed. Your voices matters and your feedback will help shape the future of Gorton.

A special thank you to Board Directors Nadia and Rizwana for all your support today. by @southasiancreative

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4 months ago

hello hello. This year started on a very happy note for us as we became the recipient of Manchester Cultural Portfolio, and Our Manchester Voluntary Community Sector Funding.

The initiative that started as an experimental project now has wings to fly and we cannot be more proud of our wins. They might be small in the sector but for us they are massive.

In the background, we have been slowly working to build our board and we are happy to announce that a brilliant set of people who have been working in the communities and the sector are with us.

Samina Ali, Elmi Ali, and Jessica El-Mal.

We started small, with very little, and a lot of belief in what Longsight could become. Having people of this calibre choose to build that with us tells us we are heading somewhere good.

Welcome to the board. We are so glad you are here.

About the new Board Members:

🌼 Samina Ali - Chair
An award-winning radio presenter and producer with decades of experience across the BBC, Channel 4 and ITV. Samina’s work spans community consultancy and audience development, including shaping national strategy for the UK’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout among minority communities.

🌸 Elmi Ali - Co-Chair

Elmi Ali is a North-West-based creative whose practice spans writing, directing, facilitating, translation, performance, and education. A graduate of Manchester Metropolitan University (Undergraduate in English Literature & Creative Writing; Post-Graduate in Contemporary Literature, Film & Theory), his work interrogates the intersection of language, form, and creative resistance within global postcolonial narratives under late-stage capitalism.

🌻 Jessica El-Mal
A British-Moroccan curator and PhD candidate at Leeds University, whose practice centres on care, ecology and migration. Jessica is co-director of A.MAL Projects, an art and research initiative working between North Africa and Europe, and has exhibited across the UK and Europe including Manchester Museum and MAMA Rotterdam. She runs community arts programmes in nature for people with experience of migration. taken in Longsight Art Space by @southasiancreative

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4 months ago

An excellent kick-start today to the launch of a six-week commissioned project, delivered in collaboration with Lingua GM and Manchester City Council Work and Skills.

Coordinating & delivering this important piece of work its about focusing on what the barriers / challenges to employment and training experienced by Arabic-speaking communities and exploring how we can better support for the participants to access meaningful employment opportunities.

Today's powerful launch session highlighted the inequalities that continue to impact migrant communities, particularly around access to employment, skills development and progression. It was inspiring to hear from individuals with exceptional talent, skills, qualifications and academic experience, who shared their personal journeys, achievements, and the challenges they continue to face in the labour market.

These conversations are vital in helping us better understand the realities people experience and in shaping practical solutions that create fairer pathways into work and training.

Looking forward to the next six weeks of delivery, engagement and collaboration. by @southasiancreative

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5 months ago