A cultural organisation rooted in community and driven by change

Inspirate is a national cultural organisation championing contemporary South Asian arts across the UK — and shaping what comes next.

Founded in 2011, Inspirate has spent over 15 years at the intersection of culture, community and creative ambition.

We produce programmes engaging a large spectrum of the South Asian diaspora — from young people’s arts projects that spark creative dialogue between diverse neighbourhoods, to intergenerational diaspora heritage programmes and a flagship festival that draws audiences from across the country.

What started as a commitment to visibility has grown into something far more ambitious: a nationally recognised organisation that is actively reshaping the UK’s cultural landscape.

Today, Inspirate is growing from a Leicester-based organisation into a national movement — commissioning new work, supporting the next generation of South Asian artists and taking our programmes to new cities. Our vision is bold. Our ambition is global. But we remain rooted in the communities and relationships that built us.

This is South Asian arts for the 21st century and it is just the beginning.

Mission, Vision and Values

Mission:

To nurture and platform the evolution of contemporary South Asian arts, ensuring that South Asian artistry is woven into the fabric of UK culture and the creative economy.

We create spaces for people across different communities to come together for collective cultural experiences. At the heart of our mission is the creative alchemy, artistic richness and critical thinking that the diasporic experience inspires within the community. Our work is both a celebration of diverse culture and a provocation for reflective thinking, open conversation and action.

Vision:

Inspirate exists to create a world where inclusion, diversity, and equity thrive - where care, creative freedom, realisation of ambition, and opportunity are accessible to all.

Values:

Authenticity

We deeply respect people’s identity and lived experiences, ensuring that everyone we work with feels valued, safe and listened to.

Innovation

We approach our work with a sense of possibility, fluidity and curiosity, developing creative spaces within which we can push boundaries, challenge our thinking, take risks, question and experiment.

Collaboration

We profoundly believe in the power of community, teamwork and collective action. We develop genuine partnerships which thrive on trust, honesty and shared exploration.

Ambition

We continually aspire to create high quality and meaningful cultural experiences that contribute towards positive social change within our local, national and global communities.

Growth

We create opportunities for collective and individual learning, investing carefully in the progression and development of our team, creative, professionals, and communities we work with.

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Our Legacy

Over the past 15 years, Inspirate has delivered festivals, heritage projects, touring productions and creative programmes that have brought hundreds of thousands of people together through art, dialogue and shared experience.

Working with communities and through extraordinary partnerships, we have created cultural moments that reach far beyond the event itself — opening doors for artists, strengthening local pride, building new relationships and changing how South Asian culture is seen, valued and celebrated.

Our collaborations have included the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Royal Collection Trust, the British Science Association, Sony TV, State Bank of India, Leicester City Council, Loughborough University and many others across the country.

Our work has animated Leicester city centre and reached national festivals across the country. We annually co-commission new work as part of our role in the Without Walls Artistic Directorate - supporting outdoor arts performances that travel to major events such as Greenwich+Docklands International Festival and Brighton Festival.

This is the legacy we are building: a cultural movement rooted in community, strengthened through national partnerships and carried forward by every artist, audience member, participant and collaborator it reaches.

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