Serendipity Arts Festival Birmingham

Details

Serendipity Arts Festival, one of South Asia’s most celebrated multi-disciplinary arts festivals, is bringing its programming to Birmingham. Delivered in partnership with Birmingham City University (BCU), the Birmingham event will take place from May 23 to 26, 2025. The Serendipity Arts Festival Mini Edition will present a rich programme of live performances, exhibitions, pop-up libraries, and masterclasses, connecting South Asian artistic traditions with Birmingham’s diverse cultural landscape.

As an extension of the Serendipity Arts Festival, which marks its milestone 10th year, the programme embodies a revolutionary approach to arts programming—one that views individual artistic expressions not in isolation, but as part of a larger, interconnected cultural tapestry. This interdisciplinary ethos, which has shaped the success of the flagship festival in Goa, now travels to Birmingham to create new dialogues and collaborative opportunities between artists from South Asia, the UK, and beyond.

Programme Highlights:
Exhibitions & Installations
Zakir Hussain Maquette by Dayanita Singh – A photographic tribute capturing the legendary Ustad Zakir Hussain on stage and at home, originally crafted as Singh’s first student project.
Eternal Echoes – Archival images of Indian musical instruments from the collection of Sunil Kant Munjal, curated by Helen Acharya, highlighting the craftsmanship and cultural legacy of Indian music.
Pop-Up Library: History of Indian Instruments – Curated by Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC), this space features books on Indian music history, alongside book readings by authors from Birmingham.

Talks, Lectures & Workshops
Remembering Zakir Hussain – A reflective talk led by Sumantra Ghosal and others who collaborated with the maestro, celebrating his legacy.
Scoring to Picture Masterclass – An interactive session on composing music for film, led by Zubin Balaporia and Sameer Patwardhan.
The Art of Taal – A Confluence of Drum & Tabla – A hands-on workshop blending Indian rhythmic traditions with Western jazz drumming, conducted by Gino Banks, Zubin Balaporia, and Ojas Adhiya.
Daily Readings & Conversations – Hosted in the Pop-Up Library, featuring authors and historians from Birmingham, exploring the evolution of Indian music.

Concerts & Performances
Sempre Fado – Antigo e Novo – A celebratory evening of Portuguese-Goan music, performed by Zubin Balaporia, Nadia Rebelo, and ensemble, blending tradition and modern arrangements.
Across Oceans – Jazz from India and the Americas – A cross-cultural collaboration blending Indian and Western jazz traditions, and performances by RBC’s music ensembles.
Banda Brasileira – A high-energy performance celebrating the rich musical traditions of Brazil, directed by Shanti Jayasinha, in collaboration with Royal Birmingham Conservatoire.
Echoes of Elegance – Ghazals & Old Bollywood Classics – An intimate performance reinterpreting timeless ghazals and Bollywood melodies, led by Priyanka Barve, Sarang Kulkarni, and others.
RBC Folk Ensemble – A powerful showcase by the Conservatoire Folk Ensemble, blending folk music with jazz, rock, global beats, and contemporary styles.
Thumri in the Chamber – Grand Finale Concert – A culminating performance weaving classical thumri into a vibrant tapestry of contemporary interpretation, featuring artists like Vijay Prakash, Priyanka Barve, and a string quartet.

Film Screenings
The Speaking Hand – A documentary tracing Zakir Hussain’s musical journey, directed by Sumantra Ghosal.
Indian Music on Film: Curated by Dharmesh Rajput – A film marathon in association with Birmingham Indian Film Festival celebrating South Asian films that unravel stories where music is much more than sound.