Under pressure from well known commentators such as Lenny Henry and its own non-executive director Samir Shah, the BBC recently announced it was launching a mentoring scheme to improve the number of ethnic minorities it hired at senior management level.

In a piece in the in-house magazine Ariel, the corporation has announced that 90 employees will join the programme in the next three years. Half will be from ethnic minorities, 18 will be disabled and the remaining 27 posts will be open to anyone.

Steve Kelly, the director of BBC People, said: “Because the BBC believes change is not going to happen any other way it has made the conscious decision … to create and sustain a pool of diverse talent with the credibility, confidence and competence to move into senior management roles.”

Previous coverage: BBC must do more at senior level

“It was like hearing someone being tortured. She was not like a human being: she could only think about the pain. A few million people in India go through that agony. At least 2 million people with cancer and many millions with other diseases who simple suffer and suffer, and their whole family suffers with them, until death eventually relieves them of the misery. Some people commit suicide because of the pain, sometimes people come and beg please kill my husband or my mother or my son, I can’t bear to see this. I think it’s dreadful what people have to go through which converts them from human beings to some sort of animals.” - Dr M.R. Rajagopal Palliative Care physician, Trivandrum

Producer Mukti Jain Campion investigates why, despite producing most of the world’s medical morphine, India’s own people have virtually no access to it and how a hospice in Shrewsbury is helping pioneers of the Indian palliative care movement to overcome the ignorance that surrounds this vital pain relieving-drug.
BBC Radio 4, Monday March 3rd 2008 at 9pm and online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio4 for seven days after broadcast

Leicester based Phizzical Productions unveils its newest production, A Perfect Ganesh, from next month with a tour around London venues.

The play is a seductive comedy about two middle-aged suburban women, who travel to India, and discover the unexpected.

Continue reading…

The London UK Film Focus (LUFF) will return to the capital from 30 June – 3 July 2008 at the BFI Southbank.

Now in its fifth year, the four-day export event will again provide a platform to celebrate and promote British films and talent to the international market. The strictly by-invitation-only event attracts 150 buyers from all world territories who come to see around 40 British titles.
Continue reading…

Three British women organisers - Kavita Bhanot, Ayesha Siddiqi and Shazia Nizam - have sent a letter to Indian newspapers to protest at their treatment over the Mumbai based literary festival: Kitab. They are now asking British literary personalities to reconsider lending support to the event.

In their letter, they said: “[W]e feel that we were misled by Pablo Ganguli and are very disappointed by his behaviour prior to, during, and subsequent to the festival. We urge you to express your disapproval for this unjust behaviour; to email Pablo on the address above and not to lend your support to Kitab 2008.”

“Lastly, we would like to apologise to all the participants who were also left inconvenienced and disappointed by Kitab 2007 - those who were cancelled on at the last minute, those that were misled, and those who were given lower priorities than their British counterparts - and we assure you that we expressed our concerns about all these factors throughout.”

The three allege that they had been communicating with Mr Ganguli, another British Asian, for the past 12 months, requesting full salaries but to no avail. They say they were forced to pay for expenses out of their pocket and had not been able to claim those expenses back.
More at Hindustan Times

In comments to The Guardian newspaper, Pablo Ganguli is denying all the accusations.

Journalist and photographer Jagdeep Parbha is featuring his exhibition of photographs, on canvas, at the Curzon Soho this month. This exhibition is a series of photographs taken in and around Delhi and Chandigarh. His interests lie in photographing culture and politics in society.

The exhibition is on until 2nd March. More info here.

The BBC announced today that Adrian Van Klaveren will be appointed controller of BBC Radio 5 live and 5 live Sports Extra. He is currently deputy director of news and controller for News Production.

His predecessor, Bob Shennan, was also controller for BBC Asian Network. But the station announced today that Van Klaveren will not take responsibility for Asian Network. Andy Parfitt, controller of Radio 1, 1Xtra and BBC Switch, will remain head of Asian Network - a role he has overseen since December.

London’s Southbank Centre will once again host Daredevas, a performance of some of the best new talent in contemporary Indian dance, in early March. Presented by Akademi, it will feature contemporary interpretations of the time-honoured styles of Kathak and Bharatanatyam.
Tuesday 4 - Wednesday 5 March, 2008 at 8pm; Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, London
www.akademi.co.uk

Female superheroes in hijab, 19th century black musical theatre, global story-telling and one man’s drama as he lives on the fringes of society: just some of the offerings at the Evolved Festival, coming to Arena Theatre, mac and Black Country venues, in the Midlands, next month.

Over the past year, a consortium called r:evolve has been working with Black, Asian, Chinese and Eastern European artists across the West Midlands, with the aim of developing talent and creating fresh and exciting new theatre. The result is Evolved, a festival showcase bringing together talents including Nu Century Arts, Muslim female theatre company Ulfah Arts and mac productions, as well as upcoming artists Dreamscape Theatre Company, Vimal Korpal and storytellers Peter Chand and Chris Lowe.
See: www.r-evolve-theatre.co.uk for the full diary of events.

BBC presenter Shazia Khan explores the subject of sexuality in the Islamic world, with a BBC World Service programme looking at how the role of modesty in Islamic culture squares with the pressures of sexual imagery on the lives of young, unmarried Muslims. She also explores the role sex plays in Islamic life – how it is celebrated within, but restricted outside, marriage.
Heart & Soul – Sex And The Islamic World
Sunday 17/24 February
Transmission times
Once aired, you an listen again from here.

London based DJ and multi-instrumentalist Bisha could soon be rocking your world, musically. The musician, born to Bengali parents and recently turned 24, has just released her debut album: Nights at the Circus.

There is much undergound hype surrounding this young lady, much of it unsurprising given her debut single: Never Seen Your Face, is brilliant. See the video below. Though, we prefer the bass-laden live performance viewable here. Another good performance of the same track is here.

According to the biography on her website, she was born in Earls Court to a musical family; her mother is still an EMI signed artist. She has studied Sitar at The Ravi Shankar School for Music and has a passion for English & East European folk, progressive pop & electronica. Her inspirations: Ananda Shankar, Wendy Carlos, Vashti Bunyan and Bjork.

She will also feature on Desi DNA tonight on BBC2 at 11:20pm.
[Hat tip: the New York based gossip site Daily Cherez]

Check out:
Her website / Her myspace page

In a hard-hitting speech to the Royal Television Society last week, the comedian Lenny Henry said broadcasters needed to do more to encourage ethnic diversity. He said:

When I started, I was surrounded by a predominantly white workforce. Thirty-two years later, not a lot has changed,” he said in a speech to the Royal Television Society.

How many black British comedians are working on mainstream TV today? One? Two? Ethnic minorities are pitifully under-served. Is there anybody going out to the comedy clubs with their diversity goggles on? Are the researchers casting their net far and wide? This is an area that needs a massive kick up the bum.

This comes not long after BBC’s internal statistics showed that the number of ethnic minorities it employs has fallen slightly recently. That doesn’t even take into account the situation at the top. Yesterday, respected producer Samir Shah, also a BBC non-executive director, said the corporation needed to do more. He said:

The BBC is the most significant player in British broadcasting … and it needs to make a shift because its performance at senior management level is dire, absolutely dire.

Thirty years after Lenny came into the business, there is not one black person, not one Asian person good enough to be a [channel] controller. It is an outrage and I think Lenny’s call for affirmative action is the least we can do.

Some years ago the BBC had about 300 diversity initiatives, but it’s the outcome that matters. We now need to put in place some serious enforcements if we are not to have another speech [like Lenny Henry’s] in another 10 years.

In response the BBC head of diversity, Andrea Callender, told the in-house magazine Ariel that a three-year mentoring scheme for minorities was being put in place. The mentoring scheme will be no quick fix,” she said. “But in three years I would expect participants to feel their careers had been enhanced and mentors to feel they had a wider pool of talent to draw on.”

Are you interested in Bhangra music and its history?
Do you enjoy Theatre and want to learn more about how professional theatre productions are developed?
Want to meet new people and to work with a professional creative team?
Do you live in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire or West London?
Continue reading…

The Dhol Foundation returns with a third album next month, featuring an array of vocalists, instruments and sounds. The album, titled Drums & Roses, has been written by the group’s founder Johnny Kalsi.

He says: “This album has been a release of lots of manifested emotions and feelings I have cooped up. A real weight off my shoulders and a well deserved trophy at the end of it all.” After starting out with the bhangra band Alaap, Kalsi moved on to join and tour with World Music bands from across the globe. In 1989 he launched the Dhol Foundation academy, which has since grown to around 400 students in locations across Britain.

Drums & Roses releases on 17 March 2008 via TDF Records.
Media contact: Pedro Carvalho at FNIK PR: pedro@ethnicnow.com.
www.dholfoundation.com / myspace.com/thedholfoundation

Reena Combo has left as editor of Ikonz magazine, the young writer has confirmed to AIM magazine. She launched the magazine with the help of her team around 18 months ago. It is not certain whether it has a future and AIM has learnt that there is no indication when its next issue will be published.

In a statement to AIM, Reena said: “Yes, there were a lot of differences of opinions and I felt it was time for me to move on after 18 months. It was a really hard decision as Ikonz was my concept, my idea, but sometimes we have to do what’s best for us and I honestly do feel like I have made the right decision.”

Prior to Ikonz, Reena was editor of Desi Xpress newspaper. She has now taken over as channel controller for the Birmingham based Punjabi World TV. The new station, which launches on 10th March on Sky, will broadcast free-to-air and aim its content at Britain’s Punjabi population.

The third decibel Penguin prize is calling for new writing that explores the experience of having a mixed heritage. The prize, organised by the Arts Council subsidary aimed at increasing diversity in publishing, is a collaboration with Penguin Books. The judges – who include Shami Chakrabarti and Kate Mosse - will be looking for true stories that illuminate the complexities, challenges and joys of having a mixed heritage.

Entries must be non-fiction, however they can be first-person accounts, or about another person’s experience. The competition is open to writers from any background. It was created to discover original writing talent while offering new authors an opportunity to showcase their work. The winning entries will be published in a Penguin anthology in November this year.
More information.

British comedian and writer Meera Syal from Goodness Gracious Me and The Kumars at No. 42 is among the celebrities backing Happy Soul – South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust’s second festival of film, arts and music (9-15 March). Its aim is to explore mental health awareness among London’s African-Caribbean, Asian and Korean communities. You can join Meera for tea and samosas at the Vestry Hall in Mitcham on Wednesday 12 March.
More on this website.

Sonia Deol, a flagship presenter at BBC Asian Network, will no longer front the digital radio station’s Breakfast Show. A statement issued by Asian Network today said that the decision had been “mutually agreed” between the two.

“Sonia and the station are exploring different opportunities with the Asian Network and we will let you know about these once they are agreed. She is also involved in other TV projects and has recently presented The Big Questions on BBC 1.”

“Jas Rao will continue to present the breakfast show for the next six months and a decision on a permanent replacement will be decided once the new Controller is in place.”

Sonia had been absent from the show since December when she went on a “three week holiday”, and her continued disappearance had prompted speculation within the industry that she may not come back. Some loyal listeners even started a group on Facebook to ask if she was coming back and expressing their concerns.

Tamasha Theatre’s new show, Lyrical MC opens this week at Oval House Theatre. The company is collaborating with South London youth theatre, React, for this unique show that explores how young people negotiate their multicultural differences through language, how they interact and experience life in the multicultural, urban world of school.

The script is based on verbatim text that came from Tamasha’s workshops with drama classes in urban secondary schools.

Performance dates:
Wed 6 Feb, 7.30pm, Oval House Theatre (part of 33% London season)
Thu 7 Feb, 1.30pm and 7.30pm, Oval House Theatre
Tue 26 Feb, 4.30pm, Soho Theatre
Wed 27 Feb, 4.30pm, Soho Theatre
Thu 28 Feb, 4.30pm, Soho Theatre
Thu 6 Mar, 2pm and 7pm , Unicorn Theatre
Fri 7 Mar, 2pm and 7pm, Unicorn Theatre
Tue 11 Mar, 2pm and 7pm, Half Moon Young People¹s Theatre
Continue reading…

Ulfah Arts unveils its debut theatre production in March, doing a short tour of the Midlands area. Danger Gulaam Fatima is storytelling by Muslim women about a heroic superwoman in hijab. She rescues women from bad situations only to find herself in similar places along the way. The performance is in poetry, spoken word and song. According to the company, the characters “go on a journey where they get lost, grow up and get rescued”.

Performances
4 March Bantock House, Wolverhampton, at 7.30pm
6 March Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton at 1pm
13 March Midlands Art Centre (MAC), Birmingham at 8pm
More on: ulfaharts.co.uk

Tongues on Fire, the annual film festival which celebrates achievement of South Asian women in cinema, presents its 10th film festival across a variety of locations in London with a press launch on Tuesday 19th February at the National Film Theatre (NFT) with Actress, Writer and Filmmaker Meera Syal at 7 pm.

Bafta will host the opening gala weekend launch on 8th & 9th March with a Q and A with Director Tanuja Chandra and Bollywood actress Mahima Chaudhry. She stars in one of the festival’s highlights - Hope And a Little Sugar (pictured below).

Other highlights will include a special celebration of Meera Syal’s works, who will be interviewed by playwright and critic Bonnie Greer on 19th March at Bafta. This year’s festival contains feature films that explore the topics of displacement; relationships and friendships; social and cultural prejudices and the subject matter of mental health within South Asian communities.

It will also feature: a screenwriter’s workshop, a director’s workshop, a short film competition sponsored by UK Film Council, seminars, documentaries and a photo exhibition.
Tongues on Fire website.

New comedy act Humili-Asian take to the touring circuit next month with a debut at London’s Watermans on 9th March. Headliner Hyde Panaser has previously gone on to open for comedian Jason Rouse. With a host of fresh comic acts including Amit Sodha, Jade Sidhu and Humza Ahmed, this is the beginning of a tour that will continue throughout London in coming weeks.

The Watermans event follows a sell-out debut at a west London venue in December 2007. Tickets can be bought through ChilliTickets.

Watermans sent out a press release this week once again slamming Arts Council for its cut in funding. It said:

The Arts Council has rejected Watermans’ appeal over the proposal to cut its funding completely at the end of March.

Watermans and its lawyers have always believed that it had a very strong case. as the main objection from the Arts Council was that they were not convinced of Hounslow Council’s long-term commitment to Watermans.

In a very strong letter to the Arts Council, Peter Thompson, leader of the Council, made the borough’s commitment to Watermans very clear while at the same time protesting about the nature of the Arts Council’s decision making. Hounslow Council had not been consulted by the Arts Council or been asked directly about these judgements before they were made. It still seems amazing that the Arts council can continue to justify these judgements in the face of universal evidence to the contrary.

Watermans has decided that it will appeal against this decision.

The Arts Council’s decision is a blow to Hounslow and the whole of West London. Watermans is the only organisation to provide such a range of services across a number of London boroughs including Hounslow, Ealing, Hillingdon and Brent and undermines the boroughs’ resources to contribute to the West London 2012 Offer.

The Whatsonstage.com features an article on Tara Arts’ artistic director Jatinder Verma blasting Arts Council England for its cut in funding.

The company, which celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, had been receiving £341,266. From the start of the new financial year come April, that amount will be reduced to £170,000 – a cut of 50.19 percent.

Tara’s artistic director Jatinder Verma (pictured) said today: “ACE has clearly signalled it is no longer willing to support the company beyond its educational and small-scale work. By extension, it is also a kick in the teeth for any Black or Asian company which chooses to focus its work on the classics (Tara is currently the only company to choose to do so). Shakespeare, as far as the Arts Council is concerned, is not for Black or Asian-led companies.

“This decision clearly makes a mockery of both the Arts Council’s own commitment to ‘celebrating diversity’, and the findings of the McMaster Report (See News, 10 Jan 2008), which accurately notes, ‘We live in one of the most diverse cultures the world has ever seen, yet this is not reflected in the culture we produce, or in who is producing it.’

Other organisations such as west London venue Watermans is also in a similar predicament - having seen its funding cut after the latest ACE funding review. It is reportedly considering legal action to bolster its case. More on that soon.