Inclusive Network Space Invaders: ‘Stories That Made Us - Roots, Resilience, Representation’ Dinner Party
Theme: Reframing Creative Identities – A focus on creative identity, migration narratives, belonging and storytelling through diverse creative practices.
Date: Thursday 27th November 2025, 4:30pm-8:30pm
Venue: Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Jordan Well, Coventry, CV1 5QP
RSVP – Register Here
(We are currently operating a waitlist for this event)
‘Stories That Made Us – Roots, Resilience, Representation’ is a new exhibition conceived and co-curated by Hardish Virk in partnership with the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. The exhibition is built on the concept of a living museum where visitors walk through different decades of South Asian life in Britain told through immersive and dynamic room settings. At the heart of the exhibition is a family story.
To celebrate the opening of the exhibition and to discuss the themes emerging from the nuanced stories found in it, we are inviting members of the community to a ‘dinner party’ where guests will have an opportunity to experience the exhibition as well as hear from those involved in archive and heritage work whilst enjoying a specially prepared buffet.
Guests will also have an opportunity to participate in the conversation. More will be revealed on the evening of the event.
If you are interested in attending this event, then please RSVP here by Monday 3rd November 2025. Please note spaces are limited.
You can learn more about the exhibition at: Stories That Made Us - Roots, Resilience, Representation
‘Stories That Made Us – Roots, Resilience, Representation’ is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players.
Indi Deol
Indi Deol is the Founding Director of the UK's largest online British Asian magazine DESIblitz. He also runs Aidem Digital CIC, a social enterprise and digital media agency. Indi sits on Aston University Business School's advisory board and the West Midland Combined Authority Cultural Leadership Board. He completed Goldman Sachs' 10,000 businesses program and was a finalist for Ernst and Young's Entrepreneur of the Year award. Indi loves exploring new places, listening to music, and cinema. His life motto is "no pain, no gain".
Panelists:
Hardish Virk, Co-curator – ‘Stories That Made Us - Roots, Resilience, Representation’
Hardish Virk (photo credit: Ayah-Ali Virk)
Hardish Virk began his career in the late 1980s as a DJ, visual artist, actor, director, writer and producer, working in theatre, dance, music, festivals, outdoor events, fashion shows and the club sector including co-founding one of UK’s biggest South Asian LGBTQ+ club nights. Over the last 30 years he has been working with arts and cultural organisations in the UK and Europe on organisational development, advising on audience development and race equality. In addition to this he facilitates training and workshops for staff, volunteers, artists and students. Hardish has written for arts and cultural magazines as well as authoring the book, ‘Spirits Message’ published in 2015. He is currently leading on a South Asian heritage project called, ‘Stories That Made Us’ which has led to two exhibitions, talks, commissions and his latest exhibition, ‘Stories That Made Us – Roots, Resilience, Representation’ opens at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in November 2025. The ambition of ‘Stories That Made Us’ is to have a Living Museum of South Asian Stories in Coventry – an idea he has had for nearly 30 years.
Shaniece Martin, Archives Assistant – ‘Stories That Made Us - Roots, Resilience, Representation’
Shaniece Martin
Shaniece Martin is a poet and researcher whose work explores identity, diaspora, and memory. They hold a PhD in Indian English Poetry, where they developed the concept of the “mental return”- a creative method for reimagining ancestral homelands through language and art. As Archives Assistant for ‘Stories That Made Us - Roots, Resilience, Representation’ at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, Shaniece works with archival material to shape exhibition content while reflecting on the legacy of archives and access barriers. Their interest in archives is rooted in their grandparents’ migration from Kenya to Coventry, informing a practice that centers inclusion and cultural memory.
Dr Ian Sergeant, Senior Curator - Global Majority Collections at Birmingham Museum Trust
Dr Ian Sergeant (image from The more things change... - a Blk Art Group exhibition at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, 2023 - image copyright Owen de Visser)
Dr Ian Sergeant is a curator-researcher and currently Senior Curator (Global Majority Collections), Birmingham Museum Trust. He was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow on Transforming Collections: Reimagining Art, Heritage and Nation, Decolonising Arts Institute, University of the Arts London (2022-24). He has an MA in Contemporary Curatorial Practice and completed his practice-based PhD at Birmingham City University in 2022. He is Co-Artistic Director of performing and visual arts company Kalaboration CIC. Curated exhibitions, projects and events include The more things change..., (Wolverhampton Art Gallery 2023); ...Like a short cut through the brambles, (Coventry Biennial 2023-24) Nation’s Finest, Putting Down Roots and Birthing,(Birmingham 2022 Festival 2022); Interference:s, (Coventry Biennial 2021); Cut & Mix, (New Art Exchange 2021); Donald Rodney at Celine Gallery, (Glasgow International 2021); Reimaging Donald Rodney, (Vivid Projects 2016).
Mya Badhan, Social Justice Activist
Mya Badhan
Mya Badhan is a passionate social justice activist and proud Black Country girl, dedicated to creating meaningful change through youth empowerment, equitable governance, and decolonial practice. She brings a wealth of experience from working across grassroots and national spaces, with a focus on strategic funding, inclusive leadership, and structural change. As a third-generation British South Asian, she brings a deeply intersectional lens shaped by experiences of class, caste, gender, colour, and religion. Through her work, she strives to create spaces that honour these intersecting identities and build equity into the fabric of decision-making and leadership.
We aim to make our events accessible to everyone. Travel bursaries are available on request, and we’re happy to discuss any additional access needs. Please get in touch with charlenecarterjames@culturecentral.co.uk to arrange support.
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