On Saturday 26th July, the newly refurbished Dominion Centre brings you a day of all sorts of creative activities.
In April this year, Southall Library and the Dominion centre re-opened as a community hub, with spaces and facilities to host a range of events. The next event, will be the Festival of Creativity – a day for you to enjoy photography, music, dance, film screenings and more.
- Saturday 26th July
- 10am-9pm
- Southall library and Dominion Centre
We spoke to Manu Nandha, Community and Outreach Officer, Hanwell Community Centre and Dominion Centre, to find out about the background of the festival and what to expect.
How did the festival come about?
Southall has such a diverse and rich heritage of creativity, from Marshall and Cleo Laine to Panjabi Hit Squad, Rebels and Pilgrims and West London Dub so it was important for me as a Southall born and bred creative to bring together the creative community in the iconic former Art Deco Cinema, The Dominion Centre Southall. The space has also had some amazing new investment as part of the UKSPF funding programme, allowing it to play a pivotal role as a cultural hub once again for exhibitions, talks, film screenings, live music, creative workshops, pop up markets (and even skateboard classes!) as it has some amazing new facilities and an exciting new safe and accessible space in the foyer.
What can the community expect?
You will be able to see some amazing local and internationally renowned musicians, learn about Southall’s culture and history, build connections with key creatives, community groups and artists from the area as well as enjoy the launch of our space as a community cinema and art exhibition and live music space. We are also holding the first ever sound system and skateboard workshops in the space, ensuring we create both inter-generational and representative spaces, and celebrate our culture.
Why is this important for you?
I am really passionate about connecting all the towns in Ealing and celebrating our people and stories whilst also creating a creative platform for everyone across the borough to have access to.
What’s next?
We do monthly creative residences in the space and next up we have an evening with the pioneer of the UK Bhangra Sounds, Kuljit Bhamra MBE, where there will be live music from local legends and Kuljit himself, as well an exhibition, talk and dance/music performances from other renowned artists in the Bhangra scene and a DJ set by Rebels and Pilgrims, who outside of curating music for the evening, will be on hand to share more about the work they do to support people from marginalised and underrepresented communities getting into creative careers.
Anything you’d like to add?
Ealing Culture provides a critical space for creatives to be part of a community and create connections but also to learn, develop and grow into spaces outside of their own towns, it really does connect creatives across the town, and the recent launch of the creatives directory is just another example of how valuable this space and platform is!
Thanks to Manu for taking the time to speak to us an for their inspiring passion for the community.
