Personally I have been involved in the Music, Arts, Media and Creative industry from a very young age and learned all my talents, arts and music by myself – no teachers no nothing! Through my hard work and dedication to this world, I have been fortunate enough to have toured the world on a mainstream level for touring with Panjabi MC Jay Z etc and featuring on TV shows like BBC The One Show, CBBC Blue Peter, Ch4 Heston Ch4 Heston Blumenthal great British menu and many others.

From this success I soon recognised that there was an urging requirement for the vibrant Punjabi culture within Yorkshire as there was simply nothing available to me at my young age and did not want the same for other up and coming talent, therefore my mission began!

Here, I founded Punjabi Roots Academy in 2012, which is a South Asian arts and cultural organisation designed simply to give back to what is an amazing community within Bradford and beyond. We work in 2 mediums which is delivering interactive workshops in schools, colleges, universities, community groups and charities and then showcasing our bright and vibrant performances in parades or live on stage.

Everything that is Punjabi Roots is self founded (it is a day to day struggle) and we have never attempted funding of any kind but we are now at a level and stage where we need to project our mission and message further therefore strongly belief that the Without Walls will open up further opportunities not only for us but members of the public who will witness our showcases and tours.

Punjabi Roots Profiles:
Facebook and Instagram – Punjabi Roots Official
punjabiroots.academy

I create solo theatre pieces which draw on my background in storytelling, acting, performance poetry and dance. My work is generally character based, physical, often interactive and most easily categorised as theatre. At the basis of my work is a love for storytelling, taking audiences on a journey, into an individual’s world. I have performed my solo theatre work in festivals, conferences and small theatres in Britain, South Africa and Canada. As Nigerian-British performer in her 50s, I explore themes which address cross-cultural experiences and aesthetics, looking back, around and looking forward in a playful, fun but thought-provoking way. My pieces have a psychological edge exploring the inner landscape of the characters.

My first experience of performing outdoor theatre was as a performer with the Horse and Bamboo Mask and Puppetry company. I worked with the company for a year in around 1999 and 2000. I also performed for about 6 months as a walk-about theatre character at The DOME now the O2 Centre in London in 2000. Additionally, over the years I have worked in summer festivals leading African dance workshops in the open air and I have experience leading processions of audience members in dance.

Due to my enjoyment of interacting with audiences, talking to ‘random people’, surprising, delighting and intriguing passers-by, I developed a solo promenade theatre piece. It combines walkabout theatre with storytelling and dance called Restfulness. It is created for gallery spaces or gatherings and events where I can perform around part of a building and move between participants. My aim is to create an outdoor piece based on this character from Restfulness. It will be my first outdoor piece.

Funmi Adewole Elliot – accumulations (accumulationsproject.com)

I am an experienced arts professional, passionate about collaboration and social change.

My diverse career includes being the General Manager with One Tenth Human (OTH), Freelance Producer at ARC Stockton, Production Assistant with Northern Stage, Freelance Project Manager with Mansfield Palace Theatre (MPT), Digital Associate with Luxi Creative and I’m also a member of Women in Immersive Technologies Europe.

I am also the General Manager of OTH, an award-winning theatre company empowering children through STEAM-focused experiences. I’ve worked as a Zoom Technician on OTH projects; “Terri and the Time Machine”, and also as a Project Coordinator on “Lightbulb Princess” and “Curious Investigators”.

Our latest venture, “Pipes and Poo,” marks our exciting foray into outdoor theatre. This interactive family game-show style adventure explores water and sanitation science for audiences aged 5 and up. I’m responsible for the logistical aspects of this production, designed for both outdoor and indoor spaces.

The Discover Programme aligns with my ambition to expand into outdoor arts. I’m eager to translate my experience with digital and immersive technologies into large-scale, public-facing installations. This opportunity will enhance my skills in managing outdoor productions; dynamically bridging my background in digital & dramatic arts with physical, interactive experiences.

As a Producer, Jasmine works on making Inspirate’s festivals, events and engagement projects happen with authenticity and rigour. She cares about inclusive and ethical practice and making space for excluded voices.

She leads on Bridging Beats, an Inspirate Youth Music-funded participation project in Leicester, and is responsible for Inspirate’s Board administration and day-to-day finance processes. Alongside her work with Inspirate, Jasmine is a freelance dance artist and researcher and a core team member of kindredpacket, a grassroots movement empowering the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) community through story, spirit and service.

I’m Jiahui, a Chinese emerging performance designer based in London, with experience working in small-scale studio shows and site-specific projects overseas. I’m passionate about exploring the relationship between space and figures.

I love exploring the transformability of limited space and using metaphors to create poetic space. I’m interested in the research of decolonisation of performing arts and applying it in my own practice.

Kelly is a dynamic and innovative cultural producer with extensive experience in managing and delivering diverse artistic projects. Currently working as a Trainee Production Manager at Sheffield Theatres, Kelly has successfully supported the coordinated of large-scale theatre productions. Additionally, as the Coordinator for the Bradford Cultural Voice Forum, Kelly has played a pivotal role in expanding the cultural network, growing membership to over 500 individuals.

In addition to her work at Sheffield Theatres and the Bradford Cultural Voice Forum, Kelly has demonstrated a strong commitment to community engagement and inclusion. As an Emerging Young Leader at Bradford District Museums & Galleries, she led the development of the “Creative Curator” arcade game, collaborating with Impact Gamers to create an immersive digital experience that challenged traditional museum perceptions.

With a passion for supporting artists from the early stages of an idea through to production, Kelly brings a solution-focused attitude. She is enthusiastic about promoting equality and representation in the arts and is committed to creating inclusive and impactful cultural experiences.

Kelly’s profile:

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Louiseanne Wong (she/they) is a non-binary movement artist, choreographer and coach. Born in Hong Kong, they studied music and dance in HK, UK and LA. Fusing dance, circus, parkour and l’art du deplacement they map themself in space, searching for authentic connections with themself and audiences. I explore my identity and East Asian heritage through playing with non-horizontal dimensions, object manipulation and overcoming obstacles. My artistic practice is mentored by Esprit Concrete and Crying Out Loud.

Louiseanne has worked in various multidisciplinary shows indoors and outdoors around the world, including Free Your Mind (world premier launch of Manchester’s Factory International), Marinella Senatore (feminist inclusive luminarie exhibitions celebrating Les 20 ans du Palais de Tokyo, Paris), Upswing UK (European Short Film Festival award winner) and Imagineer’s Bridge (BBC feature), Blame Game (Kundle Cru x Crying Out Loud). Presented work in progress creations I Am. Am I, Not Dainty, You’re On Mute, various support from The Lowry Artist Development Program, HOMEmcr, New Earth Academy+, Resolution Festival ’24. Coaching credits include Roundhouse, Scarabeus’ Take Flight, Royal Academy of Dance dancers, Mountview, Central School of Speech and Drama Applied Theatre MA students.

Coaching credits include The Lowry CAT, Roundhouse, Scarabeus’ Take Flight, Royal Academy of Dance, Step into Dance, Mountview, Central School of Speech and Drama Applied Theatre MA students.

Louiseanne profiles:

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@LouiseanneWong on X
Photo credit: Jordan White @jordanthejumper

I am a multidisciplinary artist practising puppetry, story telling, sculpting and animation. I hold an MA in drama and literature, a BA in Puppetry and Drama from faculty of dramatic art in Tehran art university and was actively involved in directing and theatre making and international festivals before my immigration.

Currently I am an artist-in-residence at BEAF, where I focus on collaborative community art, recently showcasing a solo puppet performance at the BEAF Festival in June 2024 and at the moment working on developing a collaborating interactive piece with my fellow artists in residence.

My passion is storytelling through my puppets in intimate settings with minimal requirements. I also design and make my own puppets. Growing up during wartime and sanctions made me a cost-efficient artist, using whatever was available to tell stories through theatre and art installations. I mostly use recycled materials and found objects, transforming everyday items into compelling narratives, embodying the concept of turning “trash to treasure.”

My performances often draw on personal experiences combined with childhood tales and day-to-day struggles such as mental health issues, motherhood, immigration, often presented with a humorous but emotional tone. I would love to work towards dismantling barriers of language, disability, and exclusivity in my performances, aiming to connect with diverse audiences of all ages and backgrounds.”

Mahtab’s profile:

Instagram

Mandeep Glover is a British South Asian Director. Her work is centred around telling stories from under-represented groups and is dedicated to reaching audiences who have been traditionally excluded
from the arts.

Mandeep has a Masters in Contemporary British Theatre from University of Lincoln. She is currently a Resident Assistant Director at New Vic Theatre, an Associate Artist for Feasible Ferret Theatre and a Headlong Origins Artist 2022-23. Previously, Mandeep was the Resident Assistant Director at Curve supported by Weston Jerwood Creative Bursaries.

Theatre credits include: As a Director, productions include:
R&D Sophia (Eastern Angles) Ruka (Curve Theatre);
Call Me By My Name (Curve Theatre); 90 Days (Curve Theatre);
a staged reading of Little India (Theatre Royal Haymarket);
Professor Mapington (Feasible Ferret Theatre); Terrible Troll
Tales (Our Big Gig Lincoln); Wrong Brothers (Feasible Ferret Theatre);
Christmas Train (Elsecar Heritage Railway);
The Bake Off and The French Waiters (BG Touring).

As an Associate and Assistant Director, work includes:
One Man Two Guvnors (New Vic Theatre); A Leap In The Dark (New Vic Theatre);
Tale Trail to The Nutcracker (New Vic Theatre); Astley’s Astounding Adventures (New Vic Theatre);
Hamlet (National Theatre); O, Island! (Royal Shakespeare Company);
Fashioning a City (Curve Theatre); Lost Books (Curve Theatre).

Mike Auger is the Co-Artistic Director of Displace Yourself Theatre. Having trained at East 15 Acting School Mike is a movement director, musician and theatre maker with over 20 year’s experience in workshop facilitation and community engagement, having supported the wellbeing of displaced people through creative arts in the UK, Hungary, Italy, Burma, Thailand, Poland, Brazil & Kosovo.

Mike also designs the sound for all Displace Yourself’s shows and now works as a Sound Healing Practitioner, providing therapeutic support for people across Yorkshire. Displace Yourself Theatre are a company with health, well-being and creativity at the heart of our practice. We use the power of theatre to explore connections across cultures, inspired by shared experiences of displaced and excluded communities. We encourage audiences to think about how we can all be active in improving the wellbeing of our society.

Displace Yourself Theatre profiles:

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@displacetheatre on X

I am a Bradford Kashmiri artist with 18 years’ experience in delivering publicly funded community projects. My work focuses on developing innovative social action projects, using visual arts, photography, multimedia & holistic tools to facilitate discussion around global issues affecting displaced people across West Yorkshire, empowering culturally excluded communities.

As a woman artist of Pakistani heritage living in Bradford, I represent a significant demographic group in the community. I have created many artworks including a globe selected as part of ‘The World Reimagined’, a national installation of 103 unique globes exploring the history, legacy and future of the Transatlantic Trade in Enslaved Africans through the work of incredible artists. I won the Issachar Fund Art Prize in 2020 on the theme of Gratitude. In 2021, I was a recipient of the Queens Award for voluntary service.

My track record in community, arts and socially engaged arts practice includes:

-Founder director of Intercultured Festival (IF) running since 2020, an annual arts and culture festival in Bradford offering a diverse creative programme in October.

-The Kulture Klub. In 2024 I instigated a new social space for local people, run in partnership with Frikasse Cafe and Bradford Markets.

-I am a key coordinator at Bradford Immigration Asylum Support Network (BIASAN), leading in partnership development with Arts Together, Opera North, People & the Dales project.

-The Art of Conversations: community connection project 2019.

-RESPONSE – producing sustainable, politically evocative art pieces 2020.

-Commission with International artist Imran Qureshi, exhibited at Cartwright Hall 2016.

-Journeys – Art & Stories. National Science Museum 2017.

-Delivering annual arts/installations workshops for Bradford Festival, creating artworks including World Peace Tree, Hope the Boat and Labyrinth.

Nandita Shankardass is a dance artist, choreographer, interdisciplinary facilitator, educator and speaker. She is the founder of Welcome Movement®, created to generate wellbeing, stimulate creativity and empower freedom of expression through movement and dance. Nandita is a Clore emerging leader, an artist in residence at Rambert Dance and a Ballet Black Take Part educational workshop facilitator. She is a 2024 Seedbed Artist supported by 101 Outdoor Arts, researching and developing community experiences and her latest outdoor work in partnership with OmVed Gardens and Akademi.

Nandita has performed with Zьrcher Ballet, Victor Ullate Ballet, Ballet Black, Scottish Ballet and Compañia Nacional de Danza. She has choreographed for Zürcher Junior Ballet, Ballet Black, Compañia Nacional de Danza, tve Global Sustainability Film Awards and for Anhad festival and solo works. She has devised and delivered creative workshops and performances for National Gallery’s Summer on the Square, Family workshops at William Morris Gallery and gatherings and workshops for women at OmVed Gardens and Asian Women’s Resource Centre.

Nandita has collaborated and performed with Sujata Banerjee Dance Company and their Youth Co., Adrian Look Tanztheater, Beeja Dance, Vidya Patel at Sadlers Wells and Tate Modern, Joseph Toonga and Hubert Essakow at The Royal Opera House for Family Sunday events and Joss Arnott Dance for Greenwich Dance Arts Unboxed.

Nandita has been teaching companies, artists and community of all ages, backgrounds and abilities for over 10 years across London, Europe and Asia. She is a member of the Without Walls Consortium artist’s advisory group.

Nandita’s profiles:

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Instagram (Welcome Movement)

I am a 31-year-old British born Yemeni woman from Rotherham, my passion for grassroots initiatives, experience of community led creative programming and my voice on matters around inclusion. My love for Rotherham, it’s people and their stories, struggles and successes are something I place in all of my work.

I have over 10 years’ experience in community engagement in Rotherham and over 2 years’ experience of creative engagement. I work as a Creative Engagement Officer at FLUX Rotherham (part time) and Project Lead (freelance) on Rotherham Creative Network, where I started Rotherham’s very own podcast –The State of the Arts. I have been a Community Producer for WOW (Women of The World) Rotherham Festival 2022 and 2023 and continue this title for WOW Rotherham Year-Round. In the past I’ve been a Director for Apna Haq, supported SYP through high counts of hate crime in the town and led DIY events inside Imperial Building during 2016/2017. I am also a member of the Cultural Partnership Board for Rotherham.

I’ve done large scale events, hyper grass root festivals and digital programming all with heritage at the heart and never realised until reflection. Rotherham is a hub of stories and I want to hear them all, some voices are quieter and I want to support them in ensuring their voices are heard.

I’m an independent theatre producer based in Birmingham. Originally from Ilkeston in Derbyshire, I studied Theatre Design at Birmingham Polytechnic, now Birmingham City University. I worked for several years as a freelance designer and workshop leader mainly in community and education settings, before gradually shifting into work as a producer and arts manager. In 2014, I set up my own company, Outer Circle Arts through which I manage my work with companies and artists here in the UK and in Spain. I’ve worked with companies and artists that include Sleepwalk Collective, Little Soldier and Paul O’Donnell and am currently working on projects with Altered Skin and Natalie Bellingham.

I’m one of a team of Artist Support Producers with In Good Company, the flagship professional creative and business development programme for theatre makers and companies in the Midlands, providing mentorship, business support, resources and high-profile performance opportunities.

I’m also on the board of the ITC, the management association for the independent theatre sector.

Shamim Eimaan was a child refugee and came to the UK when Idi Amin expelled the Asians from Uganda in 1972. Her lived experiences provide her with a level of specialism. She is focused on working on community-based projects that promote inclusion and diversity acting as a trusted conduit between communities and public sector, third party and other organisations.

She is passionate about advocating for disadvantaged communities and shares her experiences about her culture, about her unfortunate situation of being a refugee and her adoption journey. She works on projects that promote diversity, inclusion, culture-appropriate events, raising awareness about her life experiences and bringing communities together.

Her recent projects include Uganda50 York, Chat Adoption York, Refugee Week Traditional Ladies night and the first ever Health Mela Project in York.

She was nominated for a Community Pride Award in June 2023 for the various community-based projects that she has been working on.

Sherelle is a Birmingham-based creative, building a vast career rooted in music. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Technology, she has balanced academic pursuits with the development of her artist brand as SANITY (formerly Lady Sanity). Known for a distinctive blend of hip-hop, jazz, and soul, SANITY’s sharp commentary fearlessly tackles themes of empowerment and self-examination, expertly balancing smoothness and potency in her lyrics.

Since her debut festival performance at the renowned Glastonbury, she has captivated global audiences. Her music reached over a billion people during the Commonwealth Games closing ceremony in Australia in 2018, and she has garnered accolades such as performing with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and receiving a GRM Daily Get Rated award.

She has also secured numerous music sync placements for TV and advertising with major companies like Pepsi, Subway, Champions League, and Netflix.

Recently, she has focused on her passion for events and community engagement. Previously with Saffron Music as a city coordinator to promote and organise courses and events for women in music, covering music production, sound engineering, and DJing.

Sherelle is currently working as a technical coordinator at Birmingham Hippodrome for their Festivals department as part of the Without Walls Associates program. In this role, she is responsible for organising the technical equipment, setup, and operation for some of the city’s biggest free community festivals, including Birmingham Weekender and B-Side Festival.

Sherelle’s profiles:

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@SanTheCreative_  on X

Suman Bhuchar is a cultural multipreneur and works as a producer, curator and promoter in the theatre and broadcast sectors. She is an associate producer at bhucharboulevard.com where she initiated and produced Decolonisation: not just a buzzword…, curated Retracing Our Footsteps (an initiative to create an archive of South Asian theatre work in the UK). She is currently producing Evening Conversations, a solo show by Sudha Bhuchar.

Suman was recently appointed Honorary Research Fellow in the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, University of Exeter.

She began her arts career with Jatinder Verma and Tara Arts that ignited a lifelong passion for theatre and a desire to tell stories from the South Asian lens. Her passion for theatre led her to work as press and marketing consultant at Tamasha (1989 to 2002 ) where she was at the forefront of building unique strategies to attract multiple and diverse audiences for the company’s work, including East is East, Balti Kings, Fourteen Songs, Two Weddings & A Funeral. Other credits include: Midnight’s Children (RSC); Bombay Dreams (Really Useful Group), East is Eastrevival (Jamie Lloyd productions) & Bring on the Bollywood (phizzical.com).

Broadcast Credits include: The Journalist & The Jihadi: The Murder of Daniel Pearl (HBO, nominated for 2 Emmys); Dead Man Talking: a murder investigation by Hampshire Police (Channel 4) & Alone Together: Portrait of the now famous Singh twins (winner ‘Best film on Art’, Asolo Film Festival 2001), Lights, Camera-Akshun (Culturewise Productions for Radio 4, 2013), which looked at the collaboration between India and UK during the silent film era. Suman also runs the community engagement programme at Southall Black Sisters, an organisation supporting survivors of domestic and gender based abuse.

My name is Zahabia Naveed, I am 19 year girl of Pakistani heritage who lives in Bradford. I recently completed my L2 apprenticeship in Horticulture at RHS Harlow Carr in Harrogate. I like work outdoor and I love the arts & culture.

I curated my first 1 day horticulture based outdoor festival on the 7th July 2024. I play a few musical instruments and I enjoy indoor climbing.

Zahabia’s profiles:

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